ASABA/Nigeria: Residents of Delta State may soon have access to specialised mental healthcare and advanced infectious-disease testing without travelling outside the state, with the government targeting March 2027 for the completion of two major health facilities.
The Commissioner for Health, Dr Joseph Onojaeme, disclosed this while speaking with journalists, saying the projects were designed to address longstanding gaps identified in the state’s healthcare system.
Onojaeme said a needs assessment conducted after Governor Sheriff Oborevwori assumed office in 2023 showed the need for dedicated facilities capable of providing specialised psychiatric care and conducting advanced public-health investigations within the state.
For years, residents requiring specialised psychiatric services have had to seek treatment outside Delta, particularly in Port Harcourt and Benin, according to the commissioner.
He said the situation had become more pressing amid concerns over substance abuse and the increasing demand for mental-health services, making the planned neuropsychiatric facility an important addition to the state’s healthcare infrastructure.
Beyond mental healthcare, the government is also developing a public health laboratory intended to expand Delta’s capacity to investigate infectious diseases and respond more rapidly to outbreaks.
Onojaeme said the absence of adequate specialised laboratory capacity had previously meant that samples collected during major disease outbreaks were sent to facilities outside the state, including laboratories in Irrua, Abuja and Lagos.
He said the arrangement could delay access to critical results, particularly when health authorities were dealing with diseases requiring quick confirmation and response.
“With a Lassa fever outbreak, we no longer need to send our samples to other states to analyse and bring back. That will be done in Delta State,” he said.
The commissioner said the new laboratory would be equipped with modern diagnostic technology, including Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) machines, to support specialised testing for infectious diseases.
He added that the facility was being developed to meet standards set by the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC), with the aim of producing reliable laboratory results for public-health decision-making.
Onojaeme said he had inspected the laboratory project to assess its progress and expressed confidence that it would be completed by March 2027.
The two projects form part of a wider effort by the state government to expand specialised healthcare services and reduce the need for residents to travel outside Delta for diagnosis and treatment.
