Ekiti govt plans to recruit more doctors, health workers

From Priscilla Ediare, Ado-Ekiti

Ekiti State Governor Biodun Oyebanji has announced plans to recruit more medical doctors and health workers for all general hospitals and basic health centres across the state, with an improved welfare package, in an effort to curb the shortage of medical personnel in government hospitals.

Governor Oyebanji also disclosed that his administration has made quality healthcare accessible, available, and affordable for the people of the state in a bid to ensure the wellbeing of the citizens. He further revealed that the government is renovating one primary health centre in each of the 177 wards in the state.

Governor Oyebanji, who stated these on Monday while inspecting road projects and the comprehensive renovation of nine general hospitals in the state, said his government is collaborating with members of the Ekiti Caucus of the National Assembly for the massive recruitment of doctors and other health workers for the state’s hospitals.

The governor said the National Assembly members, under the arrangement, will bear the cost of salaries and allowances of the newly recruited doctors and health workers for one year.

He assured that the recruitment of doctors and health workers will commence soon, adding that all the general hospitals in the state would have a full complement of medical professionals before the end of the year.

This, he said, will help stem the tide of the shortage of medical personnel, particularly doctors and nurses, in health facilities in the state, and ensure the effective utilisation of the modern equipment and facilities being put in place by the government.

The governor urged residents of the state to make use of the newly renovated hospitals to justify the government’s huge investment in the health sector.

Reiterating the commitment of his administration to the provision of quality and accessible healthcare services for Ekiti people, Governor Oyebanji said he is happy that the people of the state are now enjoying the dividends of democracy as a reward for the trust reposed in him through their votes.

He noted that the transformation in the healthcare sector is part of his administration’s commitment to improving the quality of life of Ekiti residents, stressing that the ongoing renovation and equipping of nine general hospitals and furnishing them with modern medical equipment are aimed at enhancing the delivery of quality healthcare services in the state.

He added that his government will not only renovate the nine secondary health facilities but will also equip them with state-of-the-art facilities to meet global standards.

The governor maintained that the transformation of the health facilities is one of the gains of continuity in government, as his predecessor, Dr. Kayode Fayemi, had renovated 11 general hospitals before leaving office in 2022.

He expressed joy that the people of the state are now enjoying more dividends of democracy as the reward for the trust reposed in him through their votes.

The governor, who also inspected some road projects being constructed through the Rural Access and Agricultural Marketing (RAAMP), expressed satisfaction with the quality of work done.

He explained that over 1,000 kilometres of rural access roads are being constructed across the state through RAAMP.

“We signed a contract with Ekiti people the day they came out to vote for us, and there are certain expectations from the government. So, what we are seeing today is a result of two years of hard work, planning, and two years of weightlifting. As a state, we are punching above our weight, and it all speaks to the gains of continuity. We have 22 general hospitals in the state.

“Governor Fayemi renovated 11 before he left, and we are currently doing nine. We are not only renovating them but equipping them simultaneously. Out of those nine, four are already completed.”

In his remarks, the Commissioner for Health and Human Services, Dr. Oyebanji Filani, commended the governor for his commitment to the health sector. He noted that the governor’s dedication to making healthcare accessible, affordable, and available has brought about significant improvements in the state’s healthcare delivery.

The commissioner further urged the people to take full advantage of the improved healthcare services by visiting the renovated hospitals for their medical needs.

He emphasised that the government’s investment is geared toward improving the quality of life for all residents.

In their separate remarks, the traditional rulers of the benefiting communities—the Alare of Are Ekiti, Oba Boluwade Adebiyi; the Oloye of Oye Ekiti, Oba Oluwole Ademolaju; the Apeju of Ilupeju Ekiti, Oba Sunday Awe; the Oniye of Iye Ekiti, Oba Jonathan Oni; and the Onifaki of Ifaki Ekiti, Oba John Adegbenro—all expressed their appreciation to the governor for the visible improvement in all the critical sectors of the state.

While commending the governor for prioritising the welfare of the people through several initiatives, the traditional rulers described the transformation and massive development in the state as unprecedented.

Some of the projects inspected include the Are-Oye road, Ilupeju–Igbo Egan–Ayede road, Iye–Olopomeji–Ikun road, Iye, Ifaki, and Itapa–Ilupeju General Hospital, Ijesa-Isu General Hospital, and Ijan General Hospital, among others.