IN less than two years in office, the achievements of Governor Sheriff Oborevwori in Delta State have elicited public commendations and international recognition both for the governor and the state. This is besides the awards that the governor has earned as an ebullient administrator and focused leader within the period.
Despite the opposition’s deceptive posture and propaganda, there are glaring achievements by the governor in terms of infrastructural and human capital that dot the nooks and crannies of the state. Some of the projects and achievements, no doubt, are the yardsticks that earned him massive recognition, dazing his detractors and endearing him to Deltans.
One such recognition for the governor is the recent award of a whopping $400,000 from the Primary Health Care (PHC) Leadership Challenge, organized by the Nigerian Governors’ Forum (NGF) in collaboration with the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation for outstanding performance in primary health care management.
To clinch the accolade, the state was assessed by the committee comprising representatives of the Federal Ministry of Health, Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, UNICEF, World Health Organisation (WHO), the World Bank and the United Nations Food Programme (UNFPA), among others and found to be providing desired grassroots healthcare services for Deltans.
This award, the first since it was instituted by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation in 2019, besides encouraging healthcare development, is to support those with bold ideas and creative approaches that could save lives, improve health, and help families across the African continent.
To many, it is not surprising that Delta State emerged winner in 2024. This is because the state has demonstrated unwavering interest in healthcare development.
Oborevwori’s administration, in particular, apart from sustaining the healthcare policies of his predecessor, Senator Ifeanyi Okowa, approved the renovation of over 150 Primary Healthcare Centers (PHCs) in the state last year.
Also, in its determination to strengthen health management and offer appreciable healthcare to Deltans, the state government has established a network of over 65 central and general hospitals, 441 Primary Healthcare Centers (PHCs) across the 256 local government areas of the state, and three state-of-the-art tertiary hospitals.
The State workforce is also enjoying a special and affordable healthcare policy under the Delta State Contributory Health Insurance Scheme (DSCHS). The scheme has extended beyond workers in the formal sectors to embrace the informal sector and grassroots dwellers, whereby no fewer than three million Deltans have been enrolled in the scheme for accessible healthcare.
With these in place, it must be acknowledged that Delta State deserved the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation awards. Apart from passing the criteria to be considered for the award after a visit of the technical committee set up to assess the state of PHCs in all 36 states and Abuja, the state has sustained its investment in the health of the people.
We celebrate the Governor, Rt. Hon. Sheriff Oborevwori, the Delta State Government, and the entire people of the state for this award. It is a justification of the governor’s unbiased implementation of the MORE Agenda and the support given by the people to the administration.
While the state and its people savour this achievement, the condition that paved the way for the award should be sustained and improved upon. To whom much is given, much is expected.
Consequently, the state government should be ready to do more for the people. Agreed that the Contributory Health Scheme is making in-roads in healthcare, areas of lack should be addressed. There is also the need for more health centers in rural areas and hospitals in other areas that deserve it for a healthy population and an improved economy.
No amount of laurels can fill the kit of a hardworking governor. The state needs more awards and therefore, the governor should also remain focused and attract awards from other agencies.
We use the same opportunity to give kudos to the Gates and Melinda Foundation for initiating the health development challenge among African leaders. May the millions of dollars invested in the project not be in vain.
