In this report, ALPHONSUS AGBORH examines the three cardinal agenda in Delta State’s Health Policy and how the communities have fared.

Good health and economic well-being are strongly linked. That explains the priority given to the health sector by the Delta State government under Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan since 2007.

The reason is not far-fetched; being a medical doctor, Uduaghan has been paying attention to matters of health care in its human capital development agenda, as the investment in that sector is worthwhile.

In the 2012 fiscal estimates, the state budgeted the sum of N12.92 billion as against N9.28 billion in 2011 under its social subsector, as a way of buttressing the importance attached to the health need of the citizenry.

The package is hinged on its determination to achieve the health millennium development goals in the area of reducing child mortality, improved maternal health, combat HIV, malaria and other diseases.

With 59 general hospitals, six central hospitals, 405 primary health centers and a teaching hospital as well as two children hospitals across the state, there is no doubt that Delta stands out eminently as one of the states in the country which has taken the health sector to the appreciable height, though there are areas of improvement.

To further increase its training of personnel, the state has three Nursing schools, two schools of midwifery, a school of health technology and one medical school.

Bridging the gap in service delivery and catching up with the MDGs, the government introduced three cardinal programmes to ensure that the human capital agenda go down well with the people.

The programmes are free rural health scheme, free maternal health care and free under-5 health care.

The rural health scheme which was introduced in 2005, received a greater impetus since four years ago. The aim of the scheme is to surmount the socio-economic barriers to good health by delivering curative primary and secondary preventive health care free of charge to the door step of Deltans whether in the creek, jungle and even where means of transportation is most difficult.

In all the communities visited in the 25 local government areas, evidence abound that the visiting team of health personnel brought relief to people as the blind saw, goiter and inguinal hernia removed, renal cyst and a lipoma on the buttock of children removed.

Cases of neurofibroma, keloids, malaria and other diseases were treated.

In all, 194 communities were reached with over 39,541 persons treated while over 2022 surgeries were performed.  About 553 out of  over 17,632  between the ages of  15 and 65 tested positive for HIV

On the other hand, the free maternal health care programme has brought joy to many families, especially to  couples with low income.

From conception to delivery, pregnant mothers enjoy health services, including surgery, free of charge.

According to the state health commissioner, Dr. Joseph Otumara, the mortality rates involving pregnant  women which was very high in the country has been reduced in the state as a result of women taking advantage of the programme.

“The 2008 National Demographic and Health Survey (NDHS) found that the national maternal mortality ratio was 545 per 100,000 live birth,

“In Delta State, a survey conducted in 2005 put the ratio at 456 per 100,000 live birth.

”The ratio has dropped to 281 in between 2009-2010,” he said.

Mothers who hitherto lost their babies at birth became happy mothers since the inception of the program while those whose bills were much because of one problem or the other were discharged free of charge and they walked away with hope.

That goodwill probably caused the exodus of pregnant women from neighbouring states of Anambra, Edo, Bayelsa and others. to troop in to Delta hospitals to receive free medical care.

At the general hospital Okwe in Asaba, it is no longer secret that majority of the women who attended  clinics came from Onitsha and its environ. Similarly, pregnant women from Igbanke, Abudu axis and Ologbo including those in the creek of Ondo state attend  antenatal clinics in Delta hospitals.

Despite alarm raised in respect of that, the state governor consistently restated that neighbouring states can also benefit from the gesture.

In all, more than 42,800 deliveries were taken with over 41551 live births. Total number of women who tested positive for HIV stood at 2,466 out of 63,594 in 2008 and 2009  
For the free under-5 health programme, the idea was conceived because children under the age of five years in developing countries are more vulnerable to diseases, most of which are preventable and curable.

Due to ignorance, poverty and other adverse socio-economic variables, the children die in large numbers from these ailments annually.

For instance, data from public and private facilities for one year of free under-5 health care programme (June 2010-May 2011) showed a mortality rate of 17.2/1000 live birth
The five commonest causes of under five morbidity and mortality in the state are malaria, Anaemia, gastro-enteritis, acute respiratory track infection and malnutrition.

Considering the vulnerability of this category of children, Dr. Uduaghan decided to launch the programme to ensure that children from day one to five years are given the necessary attention.

Mothers are enthused because from the day of conception to delivery and to age 5, the health need of the child is the responsibility of the state government.

Whatever the success Delta is making in the health sector, the role of the state commissioner for the sector, Dr. Joseph Otumara and the no-nonsense attitude of the Permanent Secretary, Hospital Management Board (HMB) Dr. (Mrs.) Caroline Ajuya cannot be sidelined.

For instance Otumara’s idea from the grassroots as a local government chairman made the rural health programme to be expanded as he gave it a drive that is being emulated by other states.

The “Iron Lady” of the board, Dr. Ajuya has brought her wealth of experience to bear, to reposition the working ethics in hospitals by restoring the lost glory in public hospitals. Workers at the various hospitals who hitherto show lackadaisical attitude to work began to imbibe a new culture of  punctuality and regularity which are expected of the medical class.