By Ifeanyi Uwagwu
Delta State’s efforts to address the critical shortage of healthcare personnel are set to receive a boost with the establishment of a new College of Medical Sciences at the Delta State University of Science and Technology, Ozoro, according to the State Commissioner for Higher Education Prof. Nyerhovwo Tonukari.
In an exclusive interview with The Pointer, Prof. Tonukari revealed that the establishment of the new medical college, which was approved at the last State Executive Council (EXCO) meeting, is aimed at increasing the number of healthcare workers in the state.
Prof. Tonukari explained that despite the ongoing trend of doctors leaving the country, and the poor doctor-to-patient ratio in the country, Delta State was determined to continue training and producing doctors for its population and the country in general, highlighting the link between healthcare and broader development, stating,
“Our goal in Delta State is to increase the number of healthcare personnel. Right now, whether in public hospitals, the Ministry of Health, or even private hospitals, one of the major challenges is the shortage of doctors. When you compare our doctor-to-population ratio to that of countries like the U.S., it’s clear that we are far behind in producing the number of doctors we need and you can’t have meaningful development without a healthy population.”, he said.
He further mentioned that the move to establish a new College of Medical Sciences at the Delta State University of Science and Technology, Ozoro, which would admit only 50 students when it takes off next year, was long overdue, because for two decades only one institution in the State, the Delta State University (DELSU), Abraka, was producing medical doctors at a capacity that was not sufficient to serve the needs of the state, despite the establishment of the new universities, which enabled the University of Delta (UNIDEL), Agbor to also admit medical students.
“For nearly two decades, Delta State University, Abraka, was the only institution in the state producing medical doctors, with a limited capacity of 50 graduates per year and you know that number is not sufficient to meet the needs of the state, especially considering retirements and other factors, even though recent developments have allowed the intake of medical students in DELSU to increase to 100 per year, with projections of producing up to 100 doctors annually in the next four to five years, it is still not enough”, he said.
“Currently, only Delta State University in Agbor admits medical students, but with a capacity of just 50.
Given the growing population and increased demand for healthcare services across the state, particularly in rural areas, the need for more doctors is acute. This situation led Governor Sheriff Oborevwori to approve the establishment of the College of Medicine at the University of Science and Technology in Ozoro, with an initial intake of 50 students expected next year. With three institutions now training doctors, this development will be highly beneficial. People across the state visit hospitals only to find that there aren’t enough doctors, particularly in rural areas,” Prof. Tonukari added.
The commissioner also highlighted the shortage of nurses, noting that many private hospitals employ auxiliary nurses due to the scarcity of properly trained ones. He emphasized that this shortage is a global issue, not just one affecting Delta State.
He disclosed that the new medical school in Ozoro along with Delta State University, Abraka and University of Delta, Agbor will also focus on training nurses with Dennis Osadebe University, Asaba expected to start admit nursing students.
