By Dennis Otu
I watched the birds as they flew to their hiding places and out there in their comfort zones, they sang beautifully and the melodies reached out to high heavens. Those in the serene vicinity enjoyed the melodies from the birds. I did also.
You must have seen those beautiful birds at the Ubulu-Uku General Hospital in Aniocha South Local Government Area of Delta State. They are always there to welcome you to the hospital in a special way. Yes, singing sweet songs in the hospital which has further witnessed massive transformation since the State Governor, Rt Hon Sheriff Oborevwori came on board.
From Ubulu-Uku General Hospital to Okpu General Hospital in Ika North East Local Government Area, General Hospitals in Ibusa, Ogwashi-Uku and other hospitals across the state, the story is the same.
On a Special Assignment to these hospitals to assess the impact of the administration of Governor Oborevwori in the health sector within 100 days in office, it was discovered that so much has been done within the period under review. The performance of the Governor in the health sector is visible. His footprints are all over the State hospitals.
After a tour of some of the hospitals, I had a chat with the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Health, Dr (Mrs) Philomena Otaviseri Okeowo in her office in Asaba and she spilled it all.
According to her, Governor Oborevwori has done so much for hospitals in the state since he came on board to pilot the affairs of the state.
The State Governor, she said, provided Solar Power grid and generators to all hospitals in the state, construction of a General Hospital at Okpu in Ika North East Local Government Area, procurement and installation of medical equipment in Twenty-One hospitals across the state.
The Permanent Secretary added that the Governor also made provision of financial medical assistance to some individuals across the state, flagged off the Maternal Newborn and Child Health Breastfeeding Week (MNCH), flagged off World Tuberculosis Week, the commemoration of World Sickle Cell Day and the launch of the 2024 Annual Operational plan for the health sector, amongst others.
The Permanent Secretary gave the Governor a pat on the back for a job well done in the health sector.
In a chat with the Health Commissioner in the state, Dr Joseph Onajaeme, he said this: “The major thing is welfare and welfare does not mean increase in pay, make sure the environment is conducive, make sure the staff are safe in their places of work in case of assault and if we can actually put all the modalities in place and making sure new employees get their pay on time, you will see that most of them will stay. Currently, we are having challenges with health officers and now with the help of His Excellency Rt Hon Sheriff Oborevwori, we were able to talk to the relevant people to make sure that the new employees get their pay within two months of employment”.
Responding to a question, the commissioner said that; “The truth is that, it’s very key to living a healthy life. During the first six months of being a Commissioner, I want to ensure that the leadership of the State will be doing walk for life every six months and that will encourage other populace to see that the leaders are taking the forefront for this. They will know that exercise is key to healthy living”.
The Health Commissioner implored Deltans to take their health care seriously, saying that; “The government will do all within its limit to ensure that Deltans can access health care in all parts of the state and so they should seek a healthy lifestyle”.
And taking the Ubulu-Uku General Hospital, with beautiful birds singing sweet songs in the surroundings as a case study, the Principal Medical Officer of the Hospital, Dr Adigwe Kingsley while speaking with me, lauded the State Governor, Rt Hon Sheriff Oborevwori for providing the hospital with needed medical equipment.
Disclosing that the Governor has taken the hospital to enviable height, the elated Principal Medical officer stated that the State Governor, Rt Hon Oborevwori has made their work easy in his first 100 days in office with the supply of medical equipment to the hospital.
According to him, everything would be done to protect the medical equipment jealously and at same time use them for the purpose for which they were provided.
He said, “I am glad to receive you here today to see how we are faring at the Ubulu-Uku General Hospital. I must tell you that we are doing well here and we are short of words to express our gratitude to the state governor, Rt Hon Sheriff Oborevwori for providing us with medical equipment within his first 100 days in office.
“Health care system has improved greatly here at the Ubulu-Uku General Hospital and we are grateful to the State Government for these materials that are making our job so easy here”, he said.
He revealed that the state government recently supplied the Ubulu-Uku General Hospital with items such as adjustable beds, stools and trays, Patient Trolleys, Theater Drapes, Ultra Sound Scanning Machine, Phototherapy Machine, Neonatal Incubators, Oxygen Conductors and a host of others.
While commending the Governor for what he has done so far for the Ubulu-Uku General Hospital, the Principal Medical officer, appealed to him to assist the hospital with Solar Power grid to make their jobs in the hospital easier at all times.
As I turned to drive away from the Ubulu-Uku General Hospital to other hospitals in the state where I was told similar heartwarming stories, I listened to the melodies of the birds again and again in their comfort zones. My take home? The birds are also happy with the massive transformation of the Ubulu-Uku General Hospital. Thanks to Governor Oborevwori.
-DENNIS OTU IS SENIOR SPECIAL ASSISTANT (MEDIA) TO THE DELTA STATE GOVERNOR
