Delta to Establish First Neuropsychiatric Facility, Public Health Lab by March 2027

The Delta State Government has commenced moves to establish the state’s first neuropsychiatric facility and a state-of-the-art public health laboratory, with both projects targeted for completion by March 2027.

In a post on the state’s X page, the Commissioner for Health, Dr Joseph Onojaeme, disclosed this in an interview with journalists, explaining that the projects followed a 2023 needs assessment which identified gaps in specialised mental healthcare and public health diagnostics across the state.

Onojaeme said the neuropsychiatric facility would provide residents with access to specialised mental healthcare within the state, reducing the need for patients to travel to Port Harcourt and Benin for treatment.

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He said the public health laboratory would also improve Delta’s capacity to conduct timely local testing for infectious diseases, including Lassa fever.

According to the commissioner, the laboratory is being equipped with Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) machines and developed in line with standards of the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC).

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He said the facility would strengthen the state’s ability to detect and respond quickly to disease outbreaks.

Onojaeme, who recently inspected the laboratory, expressed confidence that both projects would be completed by March 2027.

He described the projects as “significant investments in specialised healthcare and public health emergency response,” stressing their importance to improving healthcare delivery and strengthening Delta State’s preparedness for public health emergencies.