Delta to Build First Neuropsychiatric Hospital, Public Health Laboratory by 2027
Korede Abdullah 
DELTA, Nigeria – The Delta State Government has commenced plans to establish its first neuropsychiatric hospital alongside a state-of-the-art public health laboratory, with both facilities expected to become operational by March 2027.
Commissioner for Health, Dr Joseph Onojaeme, disclosed the development on Wednesday while speaking with journalists, explaining that the projects followed a comprehensive healthcare needs assessment conducted in 2023, which identified significant gaps in specialised mental healthcare and public health diagnostic services across the state.
According to Onojaeme, the proposed neuropsychiatric facility will provide residents with access to specialised mental health services within Delta State, eliminating the need for many patients to travel to neighbouring states such as Rivers and Edo for treatment.
He added that the new public health laboratory would significantly strengthen the state’s disease surveillance and diagnostic capacity by enabling rapid local testing for infectious diseases, including Lassa fever and other public health threats.
The laboratory, he said, will be equipped with advanced Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) machines and developed in accordance with standards set by the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC).
Following a recent inspection of the project site, the commissioner expressed confidence that construction would be completed as scheduled by March 2027.
Onojaeme described the projects as major investments in specialised healthcare and emergency disease preparedness, noting that they would improve healthcare delivery while enhancing Delta State’s ability to detect, monitor and respond swiftly to disease outbreaks.
He said the facilities form part of the government’s broader efforts to strengthen the state’s healthcare infrastructure and improve access to quality medical services for residents.
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