The governor of Delta State, Sheriff Oborevwori, on Tuesday, March 24, approved the recruitment of over 700 medical and non-medical personnels in a major initiative to strengthen healthcare delivery across the state.
The state commissioner for health, Joseph Onojaeme, announced the development at a press conference in Asaba, the state capital.
According to the commissioner, the move is a strategic response to rising demand for healthcare services and ongoing upgrades in medical infrastructure in the state.
He added, “The recruitment drive is closely tied to recent developments in the sector, including the upgrade of General Hospital Warri to a Central Hospital and the near-completion of the Mother and Child Hospital in Ekpan, both of which require additional manpower to function optimally.
“This approval reflects the government’s proactive approach to ensuring that our health facilities are adequately staffed to meet the growing needs of our population.”
Onojaeme provided a breakdown of the planned deployment: 295 personnel will be posted to the Hospital Management Board, 120 to the Delta State University Teaching Hospital, 100 to the College of Health Technology, Ovrode, 60 to Asaba Specialist Hospital, and 12 to Warri Central Hospital.
The commissioner noted that the recruitment also addresses workforce shortages caused by the ongoing migration of healthcare professionals, widely referred to as the Japa syndrome.
He added that the state government maintains a policy of promptly replacing exiting personnel to ensure continuity in service delivery.
Highlighting other key interventions, Onojaeme mentioned the near completion of a State Public Health Laboratory.
He recalled that during the COVID-19 pandemic, the absence of such a facility forced the state to send samples to Abuja for analysis.
He also revealed that a new psychiatric hospital under construction would significantly expand healthcare services and create additional demand for skilled professionals.
On medical technology, the commissioner said the government has procured three 1.5 Tesla MRI machines, noting that the helium-free systems are more cost-effective and easier to maintain than older models.
Investments in dialysis services, he added, are yielding results, with treatment costs dropping to as low as ₦45,000 in some facilities, with further reductions expected as additional interventions are implemented.
Assuring that the recruitment process will be transparent and merit-based, Onojaeme said vacancies will be advertised in both national and local newspapers.
The exercise will cover a wide range of positions, including consultants, doctors, nurses, pharmacists, laboratory scientists, physiotherapists, health technologists, administrators, and other support staff.
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