Ekiti govt to renovate over 100 health facilities in 2025

The Ekiti State Government has expressed readiness to renovate and equip no fewer than 100 health centres and facilities across the 16 local government areas of the state.

The Commissioner for Health and Human Services, Dr. Oyebanji Filani, who stated this at the weekend, noted that the measure was part of the administration of Governor Biodun Oyebanji to make healthcare services available to the people, especially at the grassroots level.

Filani spoke during the stakeholders’ meeting under the Immunisation Plus and Malaria Progress by Accelerating Coverage and Transforming Services (IMPACT) Project held in Ado Ekiti, the state capital.

The Commissioner, who was represented by the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Health and Human Services, Mrs. Olusola Gbenga-Igotun, noted that the PHCs were key in the healthcare system as they are the first point of contact for many people with the health system.

He explained that the main objective of the World Bank-assisted IMPACT Project is to reduce under-5 mortality rates, increase immunized children, as well as increase facility utilization.

He called on stakeholders, including traditional and religious leaders, to inform people on the need to take advantage of various life-impacting health programmes in the state for quality healthcare services.

While flagging off the distribution of the E-MOTIVE Mama Kits delivery package containing essential items aimed at aiding pregnant women to undergo safe and protective delivery, the Commissioner disclosed that 2,000 packs would be distributed to all health facilities across the state in the first tranche.

According to him, the state is expecting 5,000 packs of the Mama Kits for the next tranche, which he noted would be distributed free of charge to pregnant mothers at health centres across the state.

He stated that Governor Biodun Oyebanji-led’s administration has significantly improved the health outcomes of the state as evidenced in the recently released health survey report in Nigeria, assuring that the state was committed to the delivery of quality healthcare services across the state in the coming years.

“Let us tell our people at home to use government health facilities because the present administration of Governor Oyebanji has invested so much in the health sector, especially with support from the IMPACT project from the World Bank.

“These services are available with competent hands to attend to our needs, especially pregnant women and other people in the society,” he said.

On his part, the Project Manager, IMPACT Immunization Plus, Dr. Sunday Omoya, disclosed that “each pack of the kits contains items such as calibrated drape, misoprostol, tranexamic acid, surgical gloves, antiseptic lotion.

“Others are cord clamp, name tag, soap, mucous extractor, sanitary pads, carrier bag, as well as chlorhexidine gel.”

Omoya stated that the project has improved facility utilisation and child health care services, as well as enhanced immunisation uptake and malaria care in the state.

He said the project would be injecting $2.5 million into malaria prevention and elimination and $11.3 million for immunisation in 2025 in the state.

In their goodwill messages, the Director-General of the State Primary Health Care Development Agency, Dr. Ayodele Seluwa; General Manager, Ekiti State Health Insurance, Dr. Charles Doherty; Chairman, Ekiti Council of Traditional Chiefs, Chief Olu Ogunsakin; and Christian Association of Nigeria Chairman, Dr. Emmanuel Aribasoye, commended the Ekiti State government for the great investment and transformation in the state health sector.

They lauded the government for providing free healthcare services to all health-seeking Ekiti residents who visit primary health centres across the state, promising to use their respective platforms in mobilising people to use government health facilities.

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