Permit me, at this point, to list some of the achievements of the Ministry of Health under Dr. Joseph Onojaeme as the commissioner.
Procurement of a multi-billion-naira set of cutting-edge medical equipment in a bold step to transform healthcare delivery across the state.
The newly acquired equipment included eight hemodialysis machines, 25 ultrasound scanners that are 4D user-friendly, and two German-manufactured rugged CT scan machines to be distributed across the three senatorial districts in the state, with the view to significantly boosting diagnostic and treatment capabilities at government-owned health institutions.
Procurement of eight dialysis machines: three for central hospital Warri, two dialysis machines for Delta State University Teaching Hospital, Oghara, and the other three for Asaba Specialist Hospital, Asaba" by the state government.
"This initiative is aimed at significantly improving the quality of healthcare services, especially in reducing maternal and infant mortality and morbidity rates.
Procurement of orthopedic equipment for Central Hospital, Warri, along with two new CT scan machines—one of which has already been installed. The second is currently awaiting installation.
EXPANDING MEDICAL EDUCATION AND WORKFORCE
Measures put in place to ameliorate the ‘Japa Syndrome,’ where health workers are leaving the country for better work conditions and pay abroad, included Governor Oborevwori’s approval for the replacement of doctors, nurses, and other health workers who exited the system without going through the normal recruitment process, which takes some time to complete. It is important to note here that due to the vigilance on the part of the ministry, Dr. Onojaeme was able to identify and expunge the names of 301 ghost health workers on its payroll who had exited the system for greener pastures outside the shores of the country but were still drawing salaries from the state government, thereby saving the state huge amounts of money.
Dr. Onojaeme requested the employment of 40 house officers to address to an extent the shortfalls of doctors due to their exit abroad for better welfare packages, which was approved by the governor.
To increase the slot for training of house officers, the commissioner, through the Delta State Government, has gotten approvals to train house officers at the central hospitals in Ughelli and Sapele.
To further address the shortage of healthcare professionals, Dr. Onojaeme attracted the establishment of the College of Health Technology in Ovrode, which will be commissioned soon, and the College of Health Sciences at Southern Delta University, Ozoro. These institutions aim to train mid-level and advanced healthcare workers, respectively, ensuring a steady pipeline of qualified personnel.
Additionally, the administration has recruited over 600 healthcare staff and implemented salary reviews to attract and retain talent.
DELTA STATE AND MEDICAL RESIDENCY TRAINING FUND (MRTF) PAYMENT
Delta State has both domesticated the MRTA and taken concrete steps to pay the MRTF to resident doctors, earning commendation from the national doctors’ association.
"Delta is now one of only three Nigerian states to have fully implemented the MRTF policy. Each resident doctor gets nine hundred and fifty-one thousand four hundred naira (N951,400.00) annually.
IMPACTING THE NURSING PROFESSION:
Delta State government, through the Ministry of Health, has systematically strengthened nursing education—upgrading institutions, reinforcing merit-based access, curbing corruption, improving leadership and staffing, and expanding infrastructure and resources. Together, these steps are laying the groundwork for a more skilled, principled, and capable nursing workforce in the state.
Leadership & Staffing Reforms: It was during this administration that the State Ministry of Health appointed its most senior nurse to head the Department of Nursing Services, ensuring experienced and effective leadership in nursing education, thereby putting to rest the long leadership problem among the nurses under state employment.
Infrastructure Expansion & Classroom Construction: The government has approved construction of new classroom blocks for State Colleges of Nursing in Agbor, Eku, and Sapele—each with capacity for about 100 students per class—designed to significantly improve training environments.
Upgrading & Accreditation of Programs: The two Schools of Midwifery in Asaba and Sapele were officially upgraded to Colleges of Nursing, aligning them with degree-level training.
Merit-Based Admission & Integrity Measures:
Admissions to the State Colleges of Nursing Sciences (in Warri, Agbor, and Eku) and Midwifery (Asaba and Sapele) are now strictly merit-based via computer-based entrance exams, with disciplinary action against any extortion by lecturers. Admissions into the various colleges have been sanitized, as we now have scenarios wherein a poor man’s child can gain admission without paying a dime. Also sanitized is the Preliminary Training Studies (PTS) examination. Due to the seriousness this administration attaches to examination malpractice, the State Commissioner of Health sent out his Technical Advisor, Dr. Omovigho Abgele, on a sensitization visit to the five colleges, advising the students to take their studies seriously. He gave out his personal telephone number to students to report any form of extortion to pay money for grades, thereby sending a strong signal that it will no longer be business as usual.
Anti-Corruption Enforcement: The Health Commissioner has led efforts to root out malpractice in nursing schools. Notably, a lecturer caught demanding money in exchange for grades was transferred, and a panel was set up to investigate, with further sanctions pending. Also, this administration declared zero tolerance on the collection of illegal fees from students. Arising from complaints from students on payments not approved by the government, the leadership of Dr. Joseph Onojaeme, Commissioner for Health, looked into the complaints, and after due diligence, the governor approved the immediate refunds of such monies, of which the students were very appreciative.
SUSTAINABLE HEALTH FINANCING THROUGH THE DELTA STATE CONTRIBUTORY HEALTH COMMISSION (DSCHC):
Financing is one of the most significant challenges faced by health systems around the world. Adequate funding is required to ensure that health services are available, accessible, and of high quality.
The DSCHC commenced service under the scheme on the 1st of January, 2017, and currently has provided service to 1,995,816 enrollees in 7 years. The total enrollee count as of 30th April, 2025, is 2,451,891: equity health plan, 2,251,146; formal health plan, 163,707; and informal health plan, 37,038. The Ministry of Health, through the state, approved the release of #1.6bn to the DSCHC.
PRIMARY HEALTH CARE:
Due to the importance the leadership of Dr. Onojaeme attaches to primary health care, which is the service entry point, the Oborevwori administration has revamped 250 primary health care centers across the state from the 441 facilities across the state, with plans to cover more.
Under the leadership of Dr. Onojaeme as Commissioner for Health, Delta State emerged runner-up in the south-south zone of the 2024 Primary Health Care (PHC) Leadership Challenge, securing $400,000 in prize money as a result of its performance in PHC initiatives.
The challenge, which was launched in 2022, was aimed at strengthening Nigeria’s primary health care under the PHC Under One Roof (PHCUOR) policy. It was organized by the federal government in collaboration with partners such as the Nigeria Governors Forum (NGF), the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, UNICEF, and the Aliko Dangote Foundation. The initiative evaluates states’ performance across six key areas: governance, financing, service delivery, use of evidence, sustainability, and outcomes.
TASK FORCE ACTIVITIES:
The State Task Force on Counterfeit and Fake Drugs and Unwholesome Processed Food sealed off 50 illegal patent medicine stores operating in the state illegally.
The task force's core mandate is to protect public health by addressing the proliferation of counterfeit and fake drugs, as well as unwholesome processed foods, within the state, with the key responsibilities to eradicate counterfeit and fake drugs and unwholesome processed foods, prevent medicine sales from unregistered outlets, and prohibit medicine hawking and the advertisement of unverified cures”.
These are rare milestones, and truly , Dr Joseph Onojaeme as the commissioner for health has changed the face of Ministry of health in Delta State .
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