Dr. Joseph Onojaeme, Delta State Commissioner for Health (m) in a group photograph during a courtesy visit on him by representatives of Ijomi and Edjemouyan communities, Oghara, Ethiope West LGA.
The Ijomi and Edjemouyan communities have been commended for being good hosts to the Delta State University Teaching Hospital, Oghara, by providing a conducive environment for the institution to thrive.
The Delta State Commissioner for Health, Dr. Joseph Onojaeme gave the commendation in his office when he received in audience the leaders of the Ijomi and Edjemouyan communities, Oghara.
He assured the people of the Governor’s resolve to ensure that the dividends of democracy and campaign promises to the electorates were achieved and therefore called for cooperation and support from the communities.
Explaining efforts made so far to properly reposition the hospital to meet its mandate, the Commissioner said that its restructuring measures have brought positive changes in the Teaching Hospital.
He added that this administration undertook an audit of the hospital’s workforce after discovering that the government was still paying salaries of about 120 health workers who had exited the system by ensuring that their salaries were stopped, thereby saving government money.
On the challenge of medical equipment available in the Institution, the Commissioner said that GovernorSheriff Oborevwori approved the procurement of a CT scan machine for the State Teaching Hospital at the last Executive Council meeting which is capital intensive.
“Other very critical measures that we took to ensure the hospital progressed was the clearing of outstanding power bills to the tune of N100 million which the hospital owed the Benin Electricity Development Company and the plan to increase the hospital’s monthly subvention,” the Commissioner disclosed.
On the various requests made by the host communities such as adhering to the employment quota of non-clinical workers as contained in the MoU signed between them and the management of the hospital, the need for them to be carried along among others, the Commissioner assured that they would be looked into with the view to addressing them.
Speaking earlier, the Councilor, Ward 12, Oghara, Hon. Eki Benson, who spoke on behalf of the host communities, commended the Commissioner for Health for the good work he is doing to ensure the teaching hospital takes its rightful place as it concerns healthcare delivery.
He assured the State government that as a friendly community they would continue to ensure a cordial relationship with the hospital and requested they be carried along in order for them to be on the same page on issues that bother on the progress of the hospital.
Hon. Benson added that the Teaching hospital hadexperienced tremendous changes since the new management took over six months ago and warned the old management not to interfere with the operation of the hospital.
He used the medium to present requests that bother on employment quota, local contractors to be allowed to participate in local supplies, and provision of unskilled labour.
The communities’ representatives, including the Youth Chairmen of the two communities, used the medium to pass a vote of confidence on the Commissioner for the progress so far recorded in the hospital and encouraged him not to relent as they would continue to give him the necessary support.
