Oyo Promises Access To Quality, Affordable Mental Healthcare

Oyo State government has reaffirmed its commitment to ensuring access to quality and affordable mental healthcare, with plans to identify underserved communities and strengthen services across the state’s 33 local government areas.

The commissioner for Health, Dr Oluwaserimi Ajetunmobi, who disclosed this during the 2026 World Mental Health Day commemoration held in Ibadan, said the government was taking steps to decentralise mental healthcare delivery and ensure residents could access appropriate treatment without travelling long distances to major health facilities.

She identified the recent commencement of psychiatric clinic services at the General Hospital, Saki, as a significant milestone in the state’s efforts to bring specialised mental healthcare closer to residents, particularly those in underserved communities.

On this year’s theme, “Lived Experiences Heard: Real Voices, Real Change,” the commissioner stressed the importance of involving people who have experienced mental health conditions in the development of policies, programmes and services designed to support them.

She said the state government would work with the Hospitals Management Board, the Primary Health Care Board and other stakeholders to assess the availability of mental health services across the 33 local government areas, identify gaps and develop phased interventions.