Healthcare Transformation in Ondo: Over 100 Clinics to be Revitalized in Statewide Expansion– Ajaka
Ondo State is taking bold steps to transform healthcare access by renovating 105 primary health centres and deploying new ambulances, promising residents quality medical services within a ten-minute reach.
The State Commissioner for Health, Dr. Banji Ajaka, revealed these sweeping reforms in Akure while addressing members of the Digital Chapel of the Nigeria Union of Journalists, Ondo State Council. He said the initiatives form a key part of Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa’s Efficient Healthcare and Socio-Economic Welfare Agenda.
“Our target is to renovate all health centres across Ondo State so that no citizen will need to travel more than ten minutes to access basic healthcare,” Ajaka said.
The renovation works include upgrading consulting rooms, labour wards, waiting areas, staff quarters, perimeter fencing, and essential utilities such as water supply and solar-powered boreholes. Additionally, each of the 105 primary health centres will be equipped with a tricycle ambulance to enhance emergency referrals.
At the secondary healthcare level, the government has approved the construction of six modern hospitals, including a 100-bed ward at the Neuropsychiatric Hospital in Akure. This development aims to address increasing cases of substance abuse and mental health issues. Other general hospitals are also receiving new blocks and specialized wards, some of which had gone decades without major upgrades.
In a bid to strengthen human resources in healthcare, Ondo State has recruited additional doctors, nurses, and health workers. Fresh approvals have been secured to further increase staffing across hospitals and agencies.
Ajaka also highlighted the Ondo State Health Insurance Scheme as a “game-changer” in financing healthcare, reducing the burden of out-of-pocket payments. The Abiyamo Maternal and Child Health Scheme, fully funded by the government, provides pregnant women with free antenatal care, safe delivery options including caesarean sections, and free medical care for their children up to five years old.
In addition to infrastructure and insurance, the government is procuring 18 ambulances—one for each local government area—to boost emergency response capabilities across the state.
Ajaka expressed confidence that with these investments, Ondo State will soon rank among the most advanced in healthcare delivery nationwide. He praised Governor Aiyedatiwa’s commitment to the people’s well-being and pledged a significant health sector turnaround before the end of the current administration.
