The Ekiti State government has embarked on a comprehensive overhaul of its primary healthcare system, focusing on both infrastructure and human resources to ensure quality service delivery across all communities.
During a recent community engagement event in Otun Ekiti, the Commissioner for Health, Dr. Oyebanji Filani, highlighted the state’s commitment to making healthcare more attractive and accessible, particularly at the grassroots level. He revealed that 250 new nurses, midwives, and community health officers have been hired. These professionals are being deployed to various primary health centres (PHCs) to improve service delivery and patient care.
In addition to staff recruitment, Dr. Filani announced that 103 PHCs are currently being renovated. “We are renovating 103 PHCs. They will all be equipped with necessary modern healthcare equipment and infrastructures,” he stated. The upgrades address essential needs such as electricity, water supply, and perimeter fencing, ensuring that facilities are both safe and functional.
The state is also providing free maternal health and childcare services, as well as laboratory tests and malaria treatment at all 177 PHCs under the Basic Healthcare Provision Fund and the Ulerawa programme. Dr. Filani emphasized, “Under the Ulerawa programme of the Governor Biodun Oyebanji administration, every single resident in Ekiti has access to defined package of services that are provided in our PHCs.”
Efforts to bolster the health workforce continue, with the commissioner noting ongoing recruitment of doctors. “We are taking them in batches. Recently, we put up advert for 100 doctors. We have recruited eight, it is continuous employment. Our goal is to ensure that they are sent to places where they are needed. We are also engaging NYSC doctors who we deploy to our facilities,” he explained.
Stakeholders, including local government chairmen, have commended the governor’s interventions, citing significant improvements in facility utilization and health outcomes. The General Manager of the Ekiti State Health Insurance Scheme, Dr. Charles Doherty, confirmed that services such as malaria treatment and immunization are free statewide. Meanwhile, State Health Educator Dr. Busayo Ige urged pregnant women and nursing mothers to utilize government health facilities, stressing the importance of childhood vaccinations.
Okay.ng reports that community involvement remains central to the state’s health initiatives, with ongoing consultations ensuring that the needs of residents are met.
