Delta State Commissioner for Health, Dr. Joseph Onojaeme has said that the state government is committed to speedy completion of the College of Health Technology, Ovrode in Isoko North Local Government Area, revealing that health workerts in the state earn the highest salaries in the country.
He disclosed this during the inspecton of projects, together with members of the House of Assembly Committee on Health.
Onojaeme said the college is being established to boost human resources for the health sector, adding that both low and middle level health personnel that are lacking in the healthcare system would be filled.
The health commissioner disclosed that academic activities would commence immediately the project is completed and handed over to the ministry.
He explained that due to high migration for greener pasture abroad, the state has lost many healthcare workers, saying that the establishment of College of Health Technology Ovrode, would help reduce the effects on the state.
Onojaeme said the state has 441 Primary Health Centers (PHCs) at the moment that are in need of health workers, maintaining that the salary structure of health workers in Delta State is still the highest, even above the Federal Government, in a bid to keep the personnel in the state’s health institutions.
He commended the state House of Assembly Committee on Health for performing its oversight function and approving fund through budgetary appropriations to the health sector.
Accordingly, the state House of Assembly Committee on Health commended Governor Sheriff Oborevworifor his efforts to addressing decline of workforce in the health sector with the establishment of College of Health Technology, Ovrode. The Chairman of the Committee, Hon Ferguson Onwo gave the commendation when he led members on an oversight inspection visit to the College for on-the-spot assessment of the ongoing construction at the administrative and academic facilities in the institution.
Onwo said that construction work on the project has reached 80 percent completion and appreciated the speed and progress made thus far.
The lawmaker, who represents Isoko South 2 Constituency in the House, explained that when the project is completed and academic activities begins, it will further open up admission space for those seeking education in health sector.
Onwo commended Governor Oborevwori for the approval and citing of the College of Health Technology at Ovrode in Isoko land as well as providing adequate funds for the project since work commenced on the institution in November last year. He disclosed that to back up the institution with relevant law, the State House of Assembly last month passed a bill for a law to make the College full-fledged institution.
Onwo charged the contractor handling the project not to lose steam on the pace of work, even as he drew attention to the need to give a facelift to the fencing of the school in order to compliment the high architecture in the premises.
The lawmaker noted that the oversight was to ensure steady progress in the new institution, stressing that the state legislature will continue to intervene in key areas of development inline with the MORE Agenda of the State Government.
In the same vein, a member of the Committee, Hon Bernard Odior, who represents Isoko North in the House, applauded Governor Sheriff Oborevwori for citing the project in his constituency, promising to protect the college at all cost.
The lawmaker also thanked his colleagues for the speedy legislative processing of the bill for the desired legal status for the College.
Also speaking, the second Vice President, Isoko Development Union, (IDU), Chief Daniel Odhomosaid the gesture of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP)-led state government to establish the College in Isoko land would be reciprocate in future elections by the Isoko people.
The representative of the firm handling the project, Mr Kola Ijalana, said construction work include renovation of existing structures and building of new structure.
He told the lawmakers that 80 percent work has so far been done, adding that by next month April the project would be delivered.
MrIjalana, listed the scope of the projects to include, new administrative building, gate house, three new blocks of class room, ICT center, canteen, hostels, staff quarters, internal road network, interlocks, and green areas development.
