As a medical professional, health for all Deltas is paramount and dear to me. I shall consolidate the good work of the out-going Governor in this matter and advance the policies, programmes, and facilities of the health sector. Indeed, as a Senator, I have been deeply involved in promoting necessary legislation to sustain and advance health and medical practice,and the institutions and personnel in this sector. I will bring to bear upon the health sector in Delta State my great concerns for best practices, grow the institutions of health, advance the quality of health and medical practitioners and improve on the general environment and conditions for the practice and delivery of medical and health services.
As part of my strategy to achieve this , my administration will pursue a legislation that will support and promote UNIVERSAL HEALTH INSURANCE POLICY for all Deltas. My administration will also take cognizance of the following:
- A proper inventory and internal visitations of all medical and health institutions shall be undertaken with a view to improving upon the existing ones and establishing new ones where necessary.
- Training of existing health personnel and engagement of more community health extension workers and sanitary health workers to boost primary health care/sanitation.
- The teaching hospital at Oghara will be consolidated as a centre of excellence, while other hospitals across the state shall be equipped, and staffed to promote specialist services in various fields of medicine.
EDUCATION
By the number of institutions at the primary, post-primary and tertiary levels, I can confidently say that some work has been done to Improve on the physical structures of our schools. Still, the schools are still very inadequate by way of quality and progressive curriculum to meet the standards of skill and knowledge required for modern day ICT-driven national and global economies.
I know that many communities will need more primary and secondary institutions but, by and large, we have a state-owned university with a Teaching Hospital in the Faculty of Medical and Health Science, two privately owned universities (and perhaps one or two more privately owned universities in the making), Colleges of Education and Polytechnics in the three senatorial districts, and other specialised and vocational institutions. While the school age population is growing, as it has always been the character of Delta State as an education loving people, the major challenges
in the educational sector include inadequate and quality staff, facilities, and related equipment.
My administration will, through constructive engagement with key stakeholders, undertake critical assessment of facilities, equipment, faculties and administrative staff in the various institutions of learning and address the deficiences. There is a compelling need to accelerate technical and vocational education by converting and equipping some existing institutions for same purpose. Our existing polytechnics will be refocused towards specialisation. Nigerians of Delta State origin outside the state and in the Diaspora will be duly attracted to develop interest on a sustainable basis in the development and upgrading of the quality of education in the state. This is one sector for which I will want to be remembered as having made a distinct mark.
