Delta Government Sacks Health Workers for Extorting Pregnant Women, Children

The Delta State Government has dismissed and demoted some health workers found guilty of extorting money from pregnant women and children under five, despite an existing free healthcare policy.

Commissioner for Health, Dr Joseph Onojaeme, made the disclosure on Saturday in Ashaka, Ndokwa East Local Government Area, during the launch of the Maternal and Neonatal Mortality Reduction Innovation and Initiatives (MAMII) Project Action Plan.

Onojaeme said the state government had sanctioned several health workers for demanding payments from patients while still forwarding the same bills to government for settlement.

He stressed that all pregnant women in Delta are entitled to free healthcare throughout pregnancy and delivery, while children under five are equally entitled to free medical treatment.

“Health workers in the state have done well, but in every twelve, there is a Judas. We have received reports of some collecting money from pregnant women and children under five for drugs, while still forwarding the bills to the government for payment,” he stated.

The Commissioner assured that monitoring would be intensified to ensure funds released for maternal and child healthcare were properly utilised.

He also urged residents to report any health worker demanding payment, noting that the phone number of the Executive Assistant to the Governor on Health Monitoring would be made public for such reports.

Highlighting progress in the sector, Onojaeme disclosed that the state had recorded a sharp decline in maternal mortality rates, dropping from over 200 to fewer than 120 deaths per 100,000 live births.

He expressed optimism that the MAMII Project would further reduce maternal and child deaths in Delta.

Representing the Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Dr John Ovuoraye pledged federal government backing for states in combating maternal and neonatal mortality.

He revealed that 172 local government areas across 33 states, including five in Delta—Ndokwa East, Ughelli North, Aniocha North, Udu, and Sapele—had been identified as high-risk zones.

According to Ovuoraye, the MAMII Project enjoys the support of President Bola Tinubu and is being implemented in collaboration with USAID, WHO, UNICEF, the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, the World Bank, and several European partners.