Delta State Governor Sheriff Oborevwori has approved the recruitment of more than 700 medical and non-medical personnel to strengthen healthcare delivery across the state.

The Commissioner for Health, Joseph Onojaeme, disclosed this during a press briefing, stating that the decision aligned with ongoing efforts to expand the health sector alongside infrastructural upgrades.

He said the recruitment was necessitated by rising demand for healthcare services following key developments, including the upgrade of General Hospital Warri to a Central Hospital and the near completion of the Mother and Child Hospital in Ekpan.

Onojaeme explained that 295 personnel would be deployed to the Hospital Management Board, 120 to the Delta State University Teaching Hospital, and 100 to the College of Health Technology, Ovrode.

He added that Asaba Specialist Hospital and Warri Central Hospital would receive 60 and 12 staff respectively.

He noted that the exercise is also intended to address workforce shortages caused by the migration of healthcare professionals, commonly referred to as the “Japa syndrome,” adding that the state maintains a policy of replacing exiting personnel to sustain operations.

The commissioner further highlighted ongoing projects, including a State Public Health Laboratory nearing completion and a new psychiatric hospital under construction, both of which are expected to require additional manpower.

He also said the government had procured three 1.5 Tesla MRI machines and expanded dialysis services, reducing treatment costs in some facilities to about N45,000.

Onojaeme assured the people that the recruitment process would be transparent and merit-based, with vacancies to be advertised in national and local dailies. (The Nation)