‘Our Policies Have Improved Health Sector, Reduced Brain Drain’

Oyo State Commissioner for Health, Dr Oluwaserimi Ajetunmobi, has disclosed that the policies being implemented by the state government in the health sector have not only led to the overall improvement of the sector but has also helped to mitigate the effect of Japa syndrome by medical professionals.

Ajetunmobi noted that these policies have directly resulted in improved quality of lives for residents of the state, reduction in maternal mortality rates, infant mortality rates and upgrade of hundreds of health facilities and infrastructure.

Addressing newsmen in Ibadan during the Omituntun 2.0 Inter-Ministerial Briefing, she noted that the Governor Seyi Makinde administration has also improved the health sector by recruiting thousands of health professionals and improving their welfare to address brain drain.

She listed the other achievements to include improved service delivery and training, enhanced referral linkages between primary, secondary and tertiary levels, statewide digital integration and proactive health workforce expansion as well as elevated health access across the state, with the government renovating several other health facilities in the secondary and tertiary health sectors.

Ajetunmobi added that the state also recorded other achievements, including the recruitment of 332 healthcare workers at secondary health facilities and increment of internship quotas, ongoing data analysis on cardiovascular risk for policy development, achievement of Pre-TAS success and initiated TAS for filariasis-free LGAs, oxygen plant resuscitation and renovation of Accident and Emergency Unit of LAUTECH Teaching Hospital and accreditations for the colleges with increase in quota of students intake.

She disclosed that the state government also recorded successes with Omituntun Free Medical Mission, which has reached hundreds of thousands of residents and the enrolment of over 121,000 residents, including pensioners, public primary school pupils and persons living with disabilities into the Oyo State Health Insurance Scheme.

Ajetunmobi noted that the Makinde administration made a huge mark in the area of primary healthcare, saying that, “In the area of primary healthcare, Oyo State has been leading with vision, courage and action.

“At the time that many states are grappling with the basics of healthcare delivery, Oyo State moved far ahead, setting a good example of how to transform Primary Healthcare Services into a sustainable, equitable and digitally-driven system that puts people first.”