By Our Correspondent
The massive investment of the Delta State Government in advanced medical equipment is expected to significantly reduce the over N100 billion reportedly spent annually by Deltans on medical services outside the state and overseas, the State Commissioner for Health, Dr Joseph Onojaeme, has said.
Onojaeme disclosed this on the sidelines of the Delta State Economic and Investment Summit 2026, held at the Events Centre in Asaba.
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The commissioner said the administration of Governor Sheriff Oborevwori had strengthened the state’s healthcare capacity through the acquisition and deployment of high-end diagnostic equipment, particularly in specialist medical facilities.
According to him, the investments are aimed at reducing the number of residents who travel outside Delta State and abroad in search of specialised healthcare services.
He identified the newly operational Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) machines at Asaba Specialist Hospital, Central Hospital, Warri, and Delta State University Teaching Hospital, Oghara, as major interventions capable of reversing the trend of medical tourism.
“The investment of His Excellency, Governor Sheriff Oborevwori, in high-end medical equipment, like the MRI that has just started working at Asaba Specialist Hospital, the one at Central Hospital, Warri, and the one at Delta State University Teaching Hospital, Oghara, will reduce the medical export we are doing in the state,” Onojaeme said.
Medical Tourism and Economic Impact
The commissioner explained that improving access to sophisticated diagnostic services would have both health and economic benefits for the state.
He noted that retaining patients within Delta for specialised treatment would help keep substantial financial resources within the local economy while also improving access to quality healthcare.
Onojaeme said the investments formed part of the Oborevwori administration’s broader strategy to improve healthcare delivery and achieve measurable progress in critical health indicators.
However, he stressed that government could not single-handedly provide all the investments required to transform the state’s healthcare sector.
He therefore called for increased private-sector participation, particularly in areas where private investment could complement government efforts.
“The medical equipment cannot be done by the state government alone. The investment in the medical sector cannot be done by the state government alone. We need the private sector to come into other areas that they need to invest in to help improve the key performance indicators in the state,” he said.
Delta Records Improvement in Maternal Health
Onojaeme further disclosed that the state’s healthcare interventions were already producing positive results, particularly in the area of maternal health.
According to him, maternal mortality in Delta State has declined from about 120 deaths per 100,000 live births to below 100 deaths per 100,000 live births.
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He stressed that the success of a healthcare system should be measured by its impact on citizens rather than merely by the number of hospitals or other physical infrastructure constructed.
“In the health sector, it is not about infrastructure. It is not measured by infrastructure; it is measured by some key performance indicators like maternal mortality and under-five mortality rate,” the commissioner said.
The commissioner said sustained government investment, alongside stronger private-sector participation, would further improve healthcare delivery in Delta.
He expressed optimism that the state could progressively reduce medical tourism, retain healthcare spending within the state and establish Delta as a destination for specialised medical services.
