Oyo State Commissioner for Health, Dr. Oluwaserimi Ajetunmobi, has declared that strategic policies implemented by the Governor ‘Seyi Makinde-led administration have significantly improved the state’s healthcare system and helped reduce the mass emigration of medical professionals, popularly referred to as the “Japa syndrome.”
Speaking during the Omituntun 2.0 Inter-Ministerial Briefing on Thursday at the Governor’s Office, Dr. Ajetunmobi said the government’s initiatives have led to better health outcomes across the state, including a marked reduction in maternal, infant, and under-5 mortality rates, along with a comprehensive upgrade of healthcare infrastructure.
She attributed these gains to robust investments in personnel recruitment and welfare, infrastructural upgrades, and a people-centered primary healthcare system. “Our policies have translated into improved quality of life for our people,” she said. “We have recruited thousands of healthcare workers, improved their welfare, and prioritized service delivery, training, and digital integration.”
Highlighting key achievements, the Commissioner noted the renovation of 212 Primary Health Centres (PHCs) and ongoing work on 87 more. Out of these, 106 PHCs are being upgraded to L2/L3 status to provide Basic Emergency Obstetric and Newborn Care (BEmONC). Sixty-six of the upgraded facilities have been equipped with solar inverters, incinerators, digital tools for electronic medical records, and essential medical equipment.
Dr. Ajetunmobi also revealed that 3,933 healthcare professionals have been recruited into the PHC system, with each local government now boasting at least one medical officer. Additionally, 332 healthcare workers were engaged at the secondary healthcare level, alongside expanded internship opportunities.
She emphasized that Governor Makinde’s administration has taken proactive steps to retain medical talent by improving welfare packages and adopting flexible work arrangements for retired but capable professionals. “Even as some leave for academic pursuits or retirement, we have implemented a mechanism to immediately replace them,” she said. “We also re-engage willing retired consultants to support service delivery.”
She added that doctors at the Ladoke Akintola University of Technology (LAUTECH) Teaching Hospital, Ogbomoso — around 100 in number — continue to support the state’s tertiary healthcare needs, assisted by resident doctors and medical students.
The Commissioner also listed successes from the Omituntun Free Medical Mission, which has provided healthcare to hundreds of thousands of residents, and the enrolment of over 121,000 individuals — including pensioners, pupils, and persons with disabilities — in the Oyo State Health Insurance Scheme.
Looking ahead, Dr. Ajetunmobi outlined the Ministry’s projections, which include:
Renovation of secondary healthcare facilities through a €55 million grant from the French Government,
Expansion of referral systems across all levels of care,
Boosting digital health infrastructure and electronic medical records,
Improving access and equity in healthcare delivery,
Scaling up recruitment and training of health personnel.
She concluded by affirming that Oyo State remains a pacesetter in primary healthcare transformation, stating: “While many states are still struggling with basic healthcare delivery, Oyo has moved far ahead — offering a sustainable, equitable, and digitally-driven system that puts people first.”
