NUJ demands overhaul of healthcare service in Delta
The **Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Warri Correspondents Chapel, has called on the Delta State Government to embark on a comprehensive overhaul of healthcare services across the state, saying the sector is “in a worrisome condition” and urgently needs reform.
The call came during the union’s congress held on Tuesday at its Secretariat in Warri, where members of the NUJ Warri Correspondents Chapel issued a communiqué detailing their concerns and recommendations. The communiqué was signed by Chido Okafor, Elo Edremoda, Samuel Ogude and Onyeka Meluwa on behalf of the Delegates’ Committee, NUJ demands overhaul of healthcare service in Delta.
In the statement, the chapel lamented the deteriorating state of many general hospitals and primary health centres in Delta State, urging the government to act without further delay. “Many general hospitals lack the requisite facilities to adequately attend to patients,” the communiqué said, illustrating why the NUJ demands overhaul of healthcare service in Delta remains a pressing demand.
Of particular concern to the journalists was the poor condition of the Dentistry Department at the Ughelli General Hospital, where dental chairs and treatment tables are reportedly broken and in urgent need of repair. The union’s communique urged the Dr Joseph Onojaeme, Commissioner for Health in Delta State, to personally tour health facilities across the state to see the conditions for himself and take immediate action.
The NUJ members made it clear that the call was not just about equipment and infrastructure, but about the overall healthcare system in Delta — pointing to long-standing neglect that has left many facilities unable to offer basic medical services. They added that unattended health centres and dilapidated general hospitals contribute to poor health outcomes for ordinary residents, NUJ demands overhaul of healthcare service in Delta.
The union further stressed that an overhaul should encompass adequate staffing, supply of medical consumables, and functional emergency services in general hospitals. Their demands reflect widespread complaints from community leaders and residents, who say that many public health facilities have become “unable to meet even basic health needs.”
The NUJ’s intervention comes against the backdrop of ongoing government efforts to improve health outcomes in Delta. Last year, Delta State launched initiatives to renovate and upgrade hundreds of primary health centres, part of a broader commitment to strengthen healthcare delivery under the administration’s development agenda. Authorities said over 150 primary health centres were renovated across the state in 2025, and further upgrades were planned for 2026.
Despite these commitments, the NUJ’s statement suggests that the pace of reforms has not kept up with urgent needs. Journalists noted that facilities still lack essential equipment, functional wards and adequate staffing, leaving patients to pay out-of-pocket for services that should be publicly provided, NUJ demands overhaul of healthcare service in Delta.
In addition to healthcare concerns, the NUJ’s communiqué also highlighted poor road conditions across parts of Delta, including the Isaba-Otutuama Road, Ophorigbala-Ighwurogu axis in Ughelli South Local Government Area, and Idjerhe Roads in Ethiope West Local Government Area. The union argued that bad roads further hinder access to medical services and emergency care, compounding the healthcare crisis.
The journalists also drew attention to the high cost of rentable accommodation in the state, condemning what they described as “exploitative practices” by house agents that have pushed rents beyond the reach of many residents. They urged government intervention to protect tenants and reduce living costs for low-income families, NUJ demands overhaul of healthcare service in Delta.
https://ogelenews.ng/nuj-demands-overhaul-of-healthcare-service-in-delta
Healthcare analysts who reviewed the NUJ’s demands said the state government has made some progress but still faces challenges related to funding, workforce distribution and infrastructure gaps. According to the Delta State Ministry of Health, the ministry is responsible for planning and implementing health policies across the state’s three senatorial districts, but needs more sustained resources to meet rising demands.
Critics of the current system argue that primary healthcare remains underfunded and that rural areas are often neglected, forcing residents to travel long distances for basic services. The Nigerian health financing environment, both at state and federal levels, has long been challenged by limited budget allocations and competing priorities, leaving states to seek creative solutions to deliver care, NUJ demands overhaul of healthcare service in Delta.
The NUJ’s call for an overhaul has drawn public attention to the broader need for structural reforms, including better supply chains for medicines, adequate staff training and improved emergency response systems. Health advocates have also urged expanded health insurance coverage to reduce out-of-pocket expenses for residents and improve financial access to care, NUJ demands overhaul of healthcare service in Delta.
Governors in other states have implemented programmes to improve primary healthcare governance, such as mobile clinics, telemedicine initiatives and community health worker recruitment drives. Delta State’s authorities have indicated similar goals, but journalists say progress has been uneven and requires urgent acceleration.
Residents who spoke with this reporter supported the NUJ’s position, saying they have experienced long wait times for services, lack of essential drugs and inadequate emergency care. “We need hospitals that work, not buildings that look good on paper,” one community leader said. “The NUJ is right to ask for action, not promises.”
As the debate continues, the State Government remains legally obligated to improve health services in line with national priorities and local expectations. How Delta’s leadership responds to the NUJ’s call for an overhaul will be closely watched by health advocates, community groups and political observers alike, NUJ demands overhaul of healthcare service in Delta.
http://punchng.com/nuj-demands-overhaul-of-healthcare-service-in-delta
NUJ demands overhaul of healthcare service in Delta.
