Before 1971, Hospital Services in the then Mid-West State of Nigeria were directly under the State Ministry of Health. However, it became obvious that hospital services needed responsive and speedy actions devoid of Civil Service bureaucracy to be effective. It was with this background that the then Mid-West State Government established the State Hospitals Management Board charged with the responsibility of managing the State Government owned hospitals. Delta state which is an offshoot of the Mid-West state was created in 1991. As at today, the Delta State Hospitals Management Board (HMB) comprises of 62 Hospitals spread across the 25 Local Government Areas of the State. For the purpose of the effective management , these 62 Hospitals are structured into 11 Medical Zones with the Headquarters located in Asaba (The State Capital), being responsible for Coordinating and managing their activities through the respective Zonal Management Committee. However, there is direct relationship with the Zonal/Unit hospital as occasion demands. The day to day running of the Board Headquarters is headed by the Permanent Secretary working with a team made up of Heads of Departments. While the Zones are headed by elected Medical Directors and are usually Medical Consultants.