NUJ Warri Demands Overhaul of Delta Healthcare, Laments Decay in General Hospitals

The Nigeria Union of Journalists, Warri Correspondents Chapel, has called on the Delta State Government to urgently carry out a comprehensive overhaul of healthcare services across the state, describing the current state of the sector as worrisome.

In a communiqué issued at the end of its congress held Tuesday at the union’s secretariat, the Chapel expressed deep concern over deteriorating conditions in public health facilities, noting that many general hospitals lack basic equipment to adequately attend to patients.

Of particular concern, the communiqué said, is the poor state of the Dentistry Department at the Ughelli General Hospital and other health centres where dental chairs and tables are broken and urgently require repairs.

The Chapel urged the Commissioner for Health to undertake an inspection tour of health facilities across the state to address the inadequacies.

Beyond healthcare, the journalists also drew attention to the deplorable condition of several roads in Delta State, including the Isaba–Otutuama Road, the Ophorigbala–Ighwurogu axis in Ughelli South Local Government Area, and Idjerhe Roads in Ethiope West Local Government Area.

It made a special appeal to Governor Sheriff Oborevwori to facilitate the urgent repair of Eburu Road in the Okumagba Layout, Warri, where the Chapel’s new secretariat is located.

The communiqué further condemned the rising cost of rentable accommodation in the state, blaming exploitative practices by house agents who compel landlords to increase rents arbitrarily sometimes yearly, and in extreme cases, monthly.

It called on the state government to intervene in the housing sector by setting up a committee to investigate exploitative rent practices and ease the burden on residents.

“We urge the government to emulate the Lagos State model, where government and landlords meet regularly to create a flexible rent payment system that allows tenants to pay for a minimum of six months, depending on their capacity,” the communiqué read.

The communiqué was signed by members of the drafting committee: Chido Okafor, Elo Edremoda, Samuel Ogude, and Onyeka Meluwa.