Governor Sheriff Oborevwori has ordered the dismissal and demotion of health workers found guilty of extorting pregnant women and children under five, despite the state’s free healthcare policy for these groups.
The State Commissioner for Health, Dr. Joseph Onojaeme, disclosed this on Saturday at Ashaka, Ndokwa East Local Government Area, during the flag-off of the Maternal and Neonatal Mortality Reduction Innovation and Initiatives (MAMII) Project Action Plan.
He lamented that while most health workers remain dedicated, a few have betrayed public trust by demanding illegal payments and still forwarding bills to the government for reimbursement.
“Health workers in the state have done well, but in every twelve, there is a Judas. Some were caught extorting money from pregnant women and children under five.
“Several have already been dismissed, while others were demoted for such offences,” Onojaeme said.
The Commissioner warned that the state would intensify monitoring to ensure strict compliance, reiterating that all pregnant women and children under five in Delta State are entitled to free healthcare.
He encouraged residents to report any erring health personnel, assuring that a direct hotline to the Governor’s Executive Assistant on Health Monitoring would be made public for whistleblowers.
Meanwhile, Onojaeme also announced that Delta has recorded a sharp decline in maternal mortality, from over 200 to fewer than 120 deaths per 100,000 live births, crediting government policies and targeted interventions for the improvement.
Representing the Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Dr. John Ovuoraye pledged Federal Government support, noting that five LGAs in Delta, Ndokwa East, Ughelli North, Aniocha North, Udu, and Sapele, remain high-risk zones.
The event featured the formal presentation of the MAMII plaque to Delta State and the inauguration of a task force to drive its implementation, with support from USAID, WHO, UNICEF, the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, the World Bank, and European partners
