The Oyo State Commissioner for Health, Dr. Oluwaserimi Ajetunmobi, has highlighted that the state government’s health sector policies have significantly improved healthcare services while curbing the impact of the brain drain phenomenon, commonly referred to as the Japa syndrome, among medical professionals.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶

Dr. Ajetunmobi stated that these initiatives have enhanced the quality of life for residents, reduced maternal, infant, and under-five mortality rates, and upgraded hundreds of health facilities and infrastructure across the state.

Speaking on Thursday at the Governor’s Office Briefing Room during the Omituntun 2.0 Inter-Ministerial Briefing, she credited the Seyi Makinde administration with recruiting thousands of health workers and improving their welfare to address medical professional shortages.

Other accomplishments include improved service delivery and training, stronger referral networks linking primary, secondary, and tertiary healthcare levels, statewide digital integration, and proactive expansion of the health workforce.

She also pointed to increased healthcare access through renovation of secondary and tertiary facilities as another milestone.

Among the Ministry’s achievements are the recruitment of 332 healthcare workers at secondary health facilities, expanded internship quotas, and ongoing cardiovascular risk data analysis to inform policy development.

Additional highlights include success in Pre-TAS and initiation of TAS for filariasis-free local government areas, the resuscitation of oxygen plants, renovation of the Accident & Emergency Unit at LAUTECH Teaching Hospital, and accreditation expansions with increased student intake quotas.

Dr. Ajetunmobi also emphasized the success of the Omituntun Free Medical Mission, which has served hundreds of thousands of residents, and the enrolment of over 121,000 people—including pensioners, public primary school pupils, and persons with disabilities—into the Oyo State Health Insurance Scheme.

She praised the Makinde administration’s transformative leadership in primary healthcare delivery, noting Oyo State’s pioneering role in developing a sustainable, equitable, and digitally driven primary healthcare system that prioritizes people’s needs.

Currently, 212 Primary Healthcare Centres (PHCs) have been fully renovated and equipped, with another 87 under various stages of completion. Of the renovated PHCs, 106 are being upgraded to Level 2 or 3 Health Facilities to provide Basic Emergency Obstetric and Newborn Care.

Within these upgrades, 66 PHCs are receiving 10KVA Solar Inverter Systems to ensure 24-hour power supply, red brick incinerators, computer tablets for electronic medical records, and medical equipment such as nebulizers, pulse oximeters, oxygen cylinders, and point-of-care testing kits.

On the challenge of retaining medical professionals despite the Japa syndrome, the Commissioner explained that the state government’s foresight in enhancing welfare packages and introducing various incentives has helped keep many health workers.

She revealed that while the state currently has about 260 medical doctors (down from 350 due to retirements and migration), a massive recruitment drive has helped reduce the shortfall. Approximately 3,933 health professionals were recruited in the Primary Health Care sector, ensuring at least one medical officer in each local government area.

Additionally, 33 new medical officers serve as PHC coordinators to oversee local healthcare delivery. The figure excludes doctors at the Ladoke Akintola University of Technology Teaching Hospital, where about 100 doctors, along with resident doctors and medical students, support healthcare services.

The government continues to address staffing challenges by replacing departing personnel promptly and re-engaging retired consultants and professionals willing to work part-time. Approved allowances also aim to motivate health workers to remain in service.

Looking ahead, Dr. Ajetunmobi said the government plans to renovate secondary health facilities with a €55 million grant from the French government, expand referral systems, strengthen digital health infrastructure and electronic health records, improve healthcare access and equity, and scale workforce recruitment and training programs.