Delta State governor, Rt Hon Elder Sheriff Oborevwori, on Wednesday, inaugurated the Warri South Council Ultra-Modern 30-bed Cottage Hospital built and furnished by the Warri South Council Chairman, Dr. Micheal Tidi.
Inaugurating the Ultra-modern cottage Hospital furnished with state-of-the-art equipment, the very elated Governor reiterates his support for financial autonomy for local government administration.
“With this hospital, our people, our women and children will have access to quality and affordable health care services. This is what cottage hospitals are known for. This is why I am in support of financial autonomy for local government administration,” Oborevwori said.
He said that he was happy to inaugurate the cottage hospitals because Warri South Council has shown a good example of why the local government administration was needed.
He further said that what the Warri South Council Chairman has done has proven that once the local government administration is given financial autonomy they will be able to achieve a lot.
Oborevwori therefore, urged other council chairmen to emulate the example of Dr Tidi, who he said has done very well as the council chairman of Warri South Local Government Area.
He said that the cottage Hospital would advance the distribution of quality health care at the grassroots level, adding that the gesture was in line with the cardinal programme of his administration.
He said that as a grassroots politician, he believed in the bottom-top approach to governance noting that the people must come first in whatever thing they are doing.
“As the third tier of government, it is the kind of government that is closer to its people. Therefore, when it lives up to its responsibility, it lifts the living conditions of the people. But the people suffer when the reverse is the case.
“I am glad that the Warri South Local Government Area under the leadership of Hon Dr Michael Tidi, has performed very well.
“I am impressed by the array of projects that have been executed by the council. You have done very well and I expect this momentum to be sustained by the next administration,” Oborevwori said.
Former Delta State Governor, Dr Emmanuel Uduaghan, in his brief remarks, congratulated the Warri South Council Chairman, for turning the former playground into a cottage hospital.
“Congratulations, your Excellency, for being here today to personally commission this project. It is a dream come true. It’s a dream that we are happy is alive. There is still a lot to be done in Warri,” Uduaghan said.
On his part, the Chairman of the Warri South Local Government Area, Dr Tidi, appealed to Governor Oborevwori to assist the council with qualified medical personnel that could help put the facility to its maximum use.
He said the Cottage Hospital was built for efficient health care service delivery to the people of Warri South Council Area.
Tidi, who will be leaving office in March this year, said that his administration has made tremendous progress in the primary healthcare sector, adding that from available statistics, the council has consistently and effectively carried out Supplementary Immunization Activities (SIA).
Some of the activities according to Tidi include; National Immunization Plus Days, Integrated Measles Campaigns (IMC), and Yellow Fever Campaigns Outbreak Respons.
“Warri South Local Government Area has always had a coverage of above 100%, it ranges from 100% to 111% and since 2020 till date the coverage has improved tremendously,”
“Permit me, not to bore Your Excellency with statistics, however, it must be noted that the successes my administration has recorded in primary health care are a testimony of our determination in prioritizing the health and well-being of our people. This has made us to support our primary health care programmes,” Tidi said.
The Warri South council chairman also used the opportunity to highlight some of the projects he has embarked on since he assumed office.
Tidi said that within the tenure of his political mandate, the council’s commitment to service delivery and infrastructure development has been unparalleled.
He thanked the Delta Governor for his encouragement and support to the Local Government and also thanked the good people of Warri South and the political leaders for stabilizing the political system that paved the way for their success as a local government.
“Our results were a testimony of our superlative and unequalled management of materials and human resources within our disposal. Our massive infrastructural development and unequalled articulation of developmental modules are geared towards rebuilding Warri South.
“Few months back, we were gathered to commission the state-of-the-art Warri South Local Government Lodge. An edifice that was second to none in the 25 local government areas.
“To the glory of God Almighty, today we are gathered once again to witness the inauguration of yet another gigantic infrastructure, a landmark project, the Ultra Modern Cottage Hospital. This project is so dear to me because it is bringing healthcare service delivery closer to my people. And it came at no better time than when my political mandate was winding up.
“Besides the massive structure, the equipment is unprecedented, as my good people deserve nothing but the best. May I once again remind Your Excellency, that my administration came on board when the Local Government needed credible and purposeful leadership.
“Leadership that would have the political will to provide the desired road map to lead our people from a condition of despair to hope and prosperity. Sir that we have delivered.
“As we all know, the main essence of Local Government is for the development of an efficient democratic system of governance at the grassroots level. This implies a system of government that should be close to the people, a system that is capable of managing local resources/services in a way that will help to raise the living standard of the citizens,” Tidi said.
The Cottage Hospital, comprises an Admin room, Card room, Nurse station, Male and female Wards, Private Ward, Pediatric Ward (for children) Chief Matron room, Labour Ward, Milking Station (for breastfeeding mothers) Recovery rooms, Main theatre, Scan rooms, Scrub and storage room (for staff) Theatre room, Treatment room, Lab, Chief Medical Consultancy and Conveniences.
The Olu of Warri, Ogiame Atuwatse III, the Orosuen of Okere-Urhobo Kingdom, HRM Morris Ogheneochuko Eyekpimi, the Regent of Agbarha-Warri Kingdom, the Vice Chairman of Warri South Local Government Area, Chief (Mrs.) Divine Ann Iniovosa.
Others are the member representing Warri South Constituency I in the Delta State House of Assembly, Dr Augustine Uroye, representative of the member representing Warri South Constituency II in Delta State House of Assembly, former three-time Chairman of Warri South Local Government and Warri South PDP Leader, Chief Joseph Otumara, Chief Israel Abido, Chief (Dr.) Roland Oritsejafor, Hon. Omimi Esquire, Hon. Kenneth Efejuku as well as Warri South PDP Chairman, Mr. Johnson Agbeyegbe, were among other prominent personalities that attended the colourful ceremony.
