THUR SEPT 03 2026-theGBJournal| The Delta State Government has commenced moves to establish the state’s first neuropsychiatric facility and a state-of-the-art public health laboratory, both expected to be completed by March 2027.
”The March 2027 completion target also gives private-sector investors a clearer indication of the state government’s commitment to expanding its healthcare infrastructure,” says a top health ministry official in Asaba, the capital.
Commissioner for Health, Dr Joseph Onojaeme, disclosed this in an interview with journalists Wednesday, saying the projects followed a 2023 needs assessment that identified gaps in specialised mental healthcare and public health diagnostics.
He said the neuropsychiatric facility would bring specialised care closer to residents who previously travelled to Port Harcourt and Benin, while the laboratory would support faster local testing for infectious diseases, including Lassa fever.
Equipped with PCR machines and developed to NCDC standards, the facility will strengthen Delta’s response to disease outbreaks.
Dr. Onojaeme, who recently inspected the laboratory, expressed confidence in the March 2027 completion timeline, describing both projects as significant investments in specialised healthcare and public health emergency response.
The projects signal a shift towards investment in specialised and diagnostic healthcare infrastructure, rather than relying heavily on referrals to neighbouring states.
X-@theGBJournal|email:gbj@govbusinessjournal.com|govandbusinessj@gmail.com
