ASABA/Nigeria: Chief Ferguson Onwo, Chairman of the Delta State House of Assembly Committee on Health, has urged the Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs) within the state government to actively participate in advancing government policies and programs for the enhancement of public welfare. This call to action was made during a session where the State Ministry of Health and its affiliated bodies defended their 2024 budget proposal before the committee.
Representing the Isoko South two Constituency, Onwo emphasized the significance of MDAs embracing governmental initiatives to ensure the delivery of high-quality services across the state. He specifically urged those overseeing the state’s health sector to uphold international standards in healthcare concerning infrastructure, equipment, and professional conduct.
Highlighting Governor Sheriff Oborevwori’s MORE agenda, Onwo stressed the pivotal role of MDAs in realizing these objectives through effective budget implementation in the upcoming fiscal year.
Moreover, Onwo emphasized the importance of medical practitioners exercising caution and empathy while attending to patients, emphasizing that a relaxed environment contributes significantly to better treatment outcomes.
Commending the Ministry of Health and its affiliated bodies for achieving a commendable 52 percent budget performance in the outgoing year, Onwo expressed confidence in their potential to further excel in the following year.
Assuring the ministry officials of the committee’s unwavering support, Onwo pledged collaborative efforts to enhance service delivery standards.
Earlier in the session, Dr. Philomena Okeowo, the Permanent Secretary, highlighted the ministry’s role in overseeing various departments and agencies to fulfill Governor Oborevwori’s MORE agenda. She outlined the extensive network of 515 Service Delivery points, comprising tertiary institutions, secondary health facilities, and primary healthcare centers across the state. Dr. Okeowo also underscored the ministry’s commitment to training its health workforce and addressing public health concerns.
Notably, Dr. Okeowo revealed the ministry’s success in generating Nine hundred and seventy-three million naira between January and November, surpassing the One billion naira revenue estimate for 2023 by 159 percent within the same period.
However, she expressed concerns about the inadequacy of the proposed budget for 2024, citing an outstanding commitment of N11.7 billion alongside the necessity for new projects. Dr. Okeowo appealed to the committee for additional funds to accommodate and comprehensively adopt the proposed 2024 budgetary estimates.
Several departments and agencies, including the Delta State Health Insurance Scheme, State Primary Health Care Development Agency, Delta State Drug Revolving Fund, Hospital Management Board (HMB), Traditional Medicine Board (TMB), Delta State University Teaching Hospital – Oghara, Asaba Specialist Hospital, and other healthcare centers, presented their respective reports before the committee during the session.
