Federal, Delta govts sign MoU on takeover of Otor-Udu General Hospital

By Joseph Erunke, Abuja

The national authorities and the Delta State Government connected Monday formalized a historical statement for the translation of the General Hospital, Otor-Udu, into a Federal Medical Centre, FMC.

The Memorandum of Understanding,MoU, signed astatine a ceremonial successful Abuja, marks a important milestone successful the ongoing effort to grow entree to prime healthcare crossed the country.

Representing Delta State Governor Sheriff Oborevwori, the Secretary to the State Government,SSG, Dr. Kingsley Emu, said the improvement reflects the governor’s unwavering committedness to reposition healthcare transportation successful the state.

According to him, the determination aligns with the administration’s broader docket of complementing monolithic roadworthy infrastructure projects with arsenic robust investments successful quality superior and societal services.
Dr. Emu highlighted that Delta State has steadily built a beardown healthcare strategy that present boasts 65 wide hospitals, 441 superior wellness centres, and 3 tertiary institutions presently nether construction.

He noted that the authorities had besides taken the bold measurement of acquiring 3 cutting-edge, helium-free MRI machines and CT scanners ,a archetypal successful Nigeria’s nationalist wellness strategy ,to trim dependence connected backstage providers.

“The Delta State Contributory Health Scheme contiguous has implicit 2 cardinal registered enrollees, including 10,000 widows,” Emu said. “This MoU is not conscionable astir handing implicit a hospital; it is astir deepening access, improving outcomes, and ensuring that our radical person facilities that conscionable planetary standards.”

Speaking connected behalf of the Federal Government, the Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Prof. Muhammad Ali Pate, represented by the Minister of State for Health, Dr. Iziaq Adekunle Salako, assured that the infirmary would beryllium decently upgraded and efficiently managed to service arsenic a centre of excellence.

He acknowledged the increasing request crossed the state for national hospitals but stressed that the authorities unsocial could not enarthrosis the responsibility. “Partnerships similar this are the mode forward. Delta State has shown readiness, and with this collaboration, Otor-Udu FMC volition soon look arsenic 1 of the finest aesculapian centres successful Nigeria,” Salako declared.

The curate commended Governor Oborevwori’s imaginativeness and investments successful healthcare infrastructure, noting that Delta State was mounting the gait successful deploying modern diagnostic tools similar helium-free MRI machines. He added that the medication of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu had placed healthcare astatine the forefront of its improvement agenda, with a absorption connected rapidly expanding specialized facilities nationwide.

On her part, the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, Mrs. Kachollom Daju, emphasized that the essence of the caller FMC is to supply specialized, accessible, and affordable aesculapian services to the radical of Delta State and neighbouring communities.

“The intent of this FMC is to bring prime healthcare person to our people, reducing the request for patients to question agelong distances for specialized treatment. With this MoU, we are not conscionable expanding infrastructure, we are improving wellness indicators and gathering a healthier Nigeria,” she said.

Dignitaries contiguous astatine the lawsuit included the Delta State Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Barr. Ekeme Ohwovoriole, SAN; Prof. Kingsley Akaba, Medical Director of FMC Ovwian; Dr. Omo Ekene, Medical Director of FMC Asaba; Mr. Friday Adugbo, Director of Administration; Sir Cosmas Oghenero Onyenaju, FCA, Director of Finance and Accounts; and Dr. Kareem Akeem, Head of Procurement, among others.

The constitution of the FMC Otor-Udu is expected to easiness the load connected existing aesculapian centres successful the region, pull apical aesculapian professionals, and service arsenic a catalyst for probe and grooming successful the South-South zone.

With the signing of the MoU, some the Federal and Delta State governments reaffirmed their shared resoluteness to fortify Nigeria’s healthcare transportation system, promising that the caller FMC volition basal arsenic a exemplary of excellence successful service,technology, and accessibility.

“The intent of this FMC is to supply specialized attraction to the radical of Delta State and ...