The Oyo State government’s progressive policies in the health sector have not only dramatically improved healthcare delivery for its residents but are also successfully combating the “Japa” syndrome, which sees medical professionals emigrating, according to Dr. Oluwaserimi Ajetunmobi, the Commissioner for Health.
Speaking to journalists on Thursday, July 3, 2025, during the Omituntun 2.0 Inter-Ministerial Briefing at the Governor’s Office Briefing Room, Dr. Ajetunmobi highlighted that these policies have directly translated into a better quality of life for residents, a reduction in maternal, infant, and under-5 mortality rates, and the upgrade of hundreds of health facilities and infrastructure.
She emphasized that the Seyi Makinde administration has bolstered the health sector through the recruitment of thousands of health professionals and a significant improvement in their welfare packages, directly addressing the challenge of medical brain drain.
Other key achievements listed by the Commissioner include improved service delivery and training, enhanced referral linkages between primary, secondary, and tertiary healthcare levels, statewide digital integration, and a proactive expansion of the health workforce.
She also noted elevated health access across the state, with numerous secondary and tertiary health facilities undergoing renovation.
Dr. Ajetunmobi further detailed the Ministry’s accomplishments, which comprise the recruitment of 332 healthcare workers at secondary health facilities, an increase in internship quotas, and ongoing data analysis on cardiovascular risk for informed policy development.
Additional feats include the achievement of Pre-TAS success and initiation of TAS for filariasis-free LGAs, the resuscitation of an oxygen plant, the renovation of the Accident & Emergency Unit of LAUTECH Teaching Hospital, and the accreditation of colleges with increased student intake quotas.
The Commissioner also highlighted the success of the Omituntun Free Medical Mission, which has provided services to hundreds of thousands of residents.
Furthermore, over 121,000 residents, including pensioners, public primary school pupils, and persons living with disabilities, have been enrolled in the Oyo State Health Insurance Scheme.
Dr. Ajetunmobi particularly praised the Makinde-led administration’s significant impact on primary healthcare.
“In the area of Primary Health Care, Oyo State has been leading with vision, courage, and action,” she stated.
“At a time that many states are grappling with the basics of healthcare delivery, Oyo State moved far ahead, setting a powerful example of how to transform Primary Healthcare services into a sustainable, equitable, and digitally-driven system that puts people first.”
She revealed that 212 Primary Healthcare Centres (PHCs) have been renovated and equipped, with an additional 87 at various stages of completion.
Out of the 212 fully renovated PHCs, 106 are currently being revitalized to L2/L3 Health Facilities for Basic Emergency Obstetric and Newborn Care.
Of these 106, 66 PHCs are being upgraded with essential amenities like 10KVA Solar Inverter Systems for 24-hour power supply, red brick incinerators, computer tablets for Electronic Medical Records (EMR), and vital medical equipment such as nebulizers, pulse oximeters, oxygen cylinders, and point-of-care testing kits.
Addressing the challenge of retaining medical professionals amidst the “Japa” syndrome, Dr. Ajetunobi credited Governor Makinde’s foresight in improving the welfare packages of health workers and implementing various measures to make the sector attractive to professionals, thereby retaining a significant number of them in the state.