The Governor of Ekiti State, Biodun Oyebanji, has disclosed that Ekiti citizens have started savouring the positive gains of continuity of governance under his leadership, saying the state would have developed faster across all economic facets if the trend had continued since 1999.
Oyebanji spoke while flagging off the construction of an 80-bed multipurpose medical building at the Ekiti State University Teaching Hospital, Ado Ekiti (EKSUTH), as part of activities marking his administration’s second anniversary.
Oyebanji, who disclosed the contract would be completed within a spate of one year, said he decided to devote huge resources to develop the health sector, knowing the importance of a healthy population to nation-building.
Oyebanji disclosed that continuity of government from the administration of the former Governor Kayode Fayemi to him has positioned his administration to seamlessly deliver democracy dividends to the people.
According to him, “We have an economic roadmap from 2021 to 2030 to serve as a guide to whoever is leading Ekiti State. Whoever you bring as a governor will perform, except such a person is not ready to work. We were able to do all these projects effortlessly because of the continuity of government and being part and parcel of a future-thinking government. What you are witnessing is positive gains of continuity of government.
“Whichever projects I commissioned are for Ekiti, and they were financed through Ekiti’s money. Only a stupid government will abandon the project of his predecessors. I am here to serve you, not myself. If we had continued on this track since 1999, we would have gone beyond this level that we are.”
Describing the hospital project as a masterpiece that will change the face of the tertiary health institution, Oyebanji posited that it will help in securing full accreditation for some courses being offered in the teaching hospital.
“This project is very significant because it will help in securing accreditation for more courses. You can’t underrate the importance of a healthy population to national growth because health is wealth. There is no development anywhere; you have a high number of sick people.
“EKSUTH has a special place in my heart. This is the only tertiary health institution that we have and where most of the people will come for safety during illness. We will continue to do our best to uplift the facilities here for quality health delivery,” Oyebanji said.
The Governor added that his administration is currently renovating nine out of 22 secondary health facilities in the state, disclosing that they will be equipped with requisite machines and personnel when completed.
The governor urged the women to patronise the oncology centre at EKSUTH, saying the expensive mammogram machine that was installed by the government might be useless if not well deployed for early detection of breast cancer.
Underscoring the significance of the structure when completed, the Commissioner for Health and Human Services, Dr Oyebanji Filani, maintained that it will further project the image of the government as being incurably concerned about the welfare and wellbeing of the citizens.
Attesting that Oyebanji has really consolidated in offering people the best health services, Filani disclosed that the recent National Demographic Health Survey vividly revealed that Ekiti has performed excellently well in the last four years in terms of health indices.
Also, EKSUTH’s Chief Medical Director, Professor Kayode Olabanji, stressed further that the medical facility will help in ensuring quality healthcare delivery to the populace and will add value for the purposes of accreditation, where structures always place a premium role.
Olabanji was highly enthralled with how the governor has shown keen interest in the growth of the medical facility by increasing monthly subventions that took off in January 2024, while also granting approval for the training of resident doctors and ensuring the uplift of equipment in the tertiary institution.
“The project is going to be a legacy project. The facility will create more space for our staff and patients. It will give confidential and private treatment to our people and improve the quality of our services. It is timely and thoughtful,” the CMD said.
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