Edjeba Health Crisis: Delta PHC Operates From Town Hall Veranda

The delivery of essential medical services in Edjeba, Delta State, has reached a breaking point. Currently, the Edjeba Primary Healthcare Centre (PHC) lacks a functional building, forcing medical staff to treat patients on the open veranda of the village town hall.

This makeshift arrangement serves over 1,200 residents across Edjeba town and Okumagba Avenue, leaving the community’s health safety net in tatters.

The lack of infrastructure has turned the town hall’s staircase into a makeshift warehouse.

All essential drugs, patient records, and medical equipment are currently stored in a cramped space beneath the stairs, exposing sensitive supplies to suboptimal conditions.

Stalled Progress and Abandoned Foundations

While a permanent site for the PHC was proposed and initiated, the project has been abandoned at the foundation level. The site, which was intended to provide a modern environment for clinical care, currently stands as a symbol of bureaucratic delay rather than progress.

The contractor for the project, Mr. Oghonemu, revealed that the project has been plagued by a lack of consistent capital. According to Oghonemu, the contract was awarded by the Delta State Oil Producing Areas Development Commission (DESOPADEC) approximately three years ago, but the pace of construction has been dictated by erratic funding.

“Funding has been slow, so I only work with what is currently available,” stated Mr. Oghonemu, highlighting the financial bottlenecks stalling the project.

Call for Urgent Intervention

The advocacy group Tracka has officially called upon Governor Sheriff Oborevwori, the National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA), and the Federal Ministry of Health to intervene. The group emphasized that the absence of a dedicated structure has caused critical treatments to stall, leaving vulnerable residents without adequate care.

Community leaders and residents are now urging the state government to prioritize the completion of the new facility to restore dignity and safety to healthcare delivery in the region.