Wife of the governor of Delta state, Dame Edith Okowa, on Thursday commissioned the First Delta America Delta Hospital, established by Dr. Isioma Okobah, chairman of Delta State Primary Health Care Development Agency.
The governor’s wife who commended Dr. Isioma Okobah for establishing the health institution to complement the efforts of the state government, said Okobah has given back to society.
She noted that it is good to give back to society and help the less privileged as that is what one will be remembered for in the life hereafter.
“We are expected to give back to society. Okobah has said she has a free hospital at Igbodoh. If we have such in every society, I tell you the level of pain will be reduced.
“Everything on earth is vanity. If you have not been able to affect society but you bear name in church, you have not done well.”
Mrs. Okowa also commended Dr. Okobah for having good relationship with her nurses and doctors just as she said Okobah’s health care also has good relationship with their patients.
She also made reference to Asaba Specialist Hospital which, according to her, also has nice nurses who treat patients as humans and not animals.
Dr. Mordi Ononye, Delta state commissioner for health, said what obtains at the First Delta America Hospital is what the ministry encourages among health workers.
He said Okobah is raising the bar in health care delivery, saying facilities in the institution are of state of the art standard.
He encouraged Okobah to continue to give the best as Deltans want the best health care service delivery.
Dr. Okobah, in her address, gave the history of the hospital, saying the hospital has a parent body which is First Lithonia Medical Centre Atlanta, Georgia, USA.
She said the dream for the establishment of First Delta America Hospital started decades ago.
According to her: “I have a clinic in America which is First Lithonia Medical Centre. But I needed to give back to my community and Nigeria, hence I’ve been coming to do free medical care to our people.
“But many Nigerians are still traveling abroad for treatment. We then thought of the need to reduce medical tourism in Delta and Nigeria. In doing this, we needed to have high class, quality medical care that people can access.
“A lot of Nigerians seek medical care outside Nigeria, in Canada, England and America. Over there, it is Nigerian doctors that attend to them. And I began to feel we can establish such in Nigeria with doctors they can trust. That was where First Delta America Hospital started.”
