OPTIMAL UTILIZATION OF HEALTH FACILITIES; A TOP PRIORITY OF THE OKOWA ADMINISTRATION – Dr. Michael Nwoko

By Frank Iroroh.

Senior Special Assistant to the Governor of Delta State on Health Monitoring, Dr. Michael Nwoko, has reminded health workers across the state about the desire of the State Governor, Senator Ifeanyi Okowa, to ensure that health facilities in the state are optimally utilized for effective healthcare delivery service to the people.

Dr. Nwoko, who was addressing newsmen at the General Hospital, Ogwashi Uku, shortly after he and his colleague, Dr. Patrick Onwuachi, inspected facilities in the hospital, said healthcare delivery was a major component of the Stronger Delta vision of Governor Okowa.

He said he was impressed with the level of care provided for patients in the hospital, especially the enrollees of the State Health Insurance Scheme and  commended the staff for their good work, while encouraging them  to do more. 

The SSA said the visit was to assess and evaluate the operations of the hospital as part of their routine monitoring duty, pointing out that having seen the equipment facilities, a checklist had been dropped for them to complete and return to the Office for effective appraisal of the facility.

Dr Nwoko said Governor Okowa was determined to carry out direct oversight of health facilities across the state in order to ensure optimal performance, attributing that to the rating of Delta State in the quest for achieving the Universal Health Coverage Policy in the Country.

He stated that the Governor’s passion for quality healthcare for the people was not in doubt considering his innovative ideas and contributions to the health sector as a medical doctor, a formal Commissioner for Health, a former Senator and now as Governor.

On the sustainability of the health programs of the Okowa administration, Dr Nwoko said, ‘we know that expectations are high with respect to ensuring that we sustain the tempo. We also know that getting to the top is not the real challenge but the ability to maintain the momentum and remain at the top. That is why the Governor deployed us to the field to carry out direct oversight of the health facilities in the State by way of monitoring, evaluation and reporting.

Now everybody is aware that there is a new order in the health sector of the state, and this has lend credence to the reawakening in the entire system and everyone is in high spirit. This new spirit will encourage a more effective service delivery by the health facilities and help to bridge the gap between the demand and supply of health care and in turn guarantee Universal Health Coverage for all residents of the State’. Dr. Michael Nwoko concluded.

For his part, Dr. Patrick Onwuachi expressed satisfaction at the conduct of management and staff of the Hospital, noting that the people were happy with the level of healthcare provided by the hospital. 

Dr Onwuachi expressed delight at the improved power supply in the hospital which was made possible with internally generated revenue and urged other hospitals in the state to emulate the the good work.

The Chief Nursing Officer (Special Grade) of the hospital, Mr. Andrew Ohu, thanked the SSAs for the visit, assuring that the hospital would continue to do its best to satisfy the healthcare needs of patients.

From Ogwashi Uku, the team visited the Azagba Ogwashi Primary Healthcare Centre where it inspected the facility and interacted with staff and patients, particularly nursing mothers, who thanked the Governor for the wonderful free maternal and child health programme which had enabled them to access health care free of charge.

The team also visited the health clinics at Onne and Ogbe Afor Displaced Persons camps, before proceeding to the Model Primary Healthcare Centre, Obodogba, Okpanam and Comprehensive Primary Healthcare Centre, Ogbe Obi Quarters, Okpanam, in Oshimili north local government area.

After inspecting the Centres, Dr. Michael Nwoko advised the Chief Matron and staff of the Comprehensive Primary Healthcare Centre to redouble their efforts to reach out to the community leaders and groups in order to sensitise the people on the importance of patronizing the Centre for their health care.

Dr. Nwoko described the Centre, which was commissioned by the Governor when he was Commissioner for Health, as massive and advised on optimal utilization of the facility for effective delivery of Primary Health Care Service to the people.