Ekiti State Governor, Biodun Oyebanji, has commissioned the upgraded Itapaji Maternity Health Centre in Ajoni Local Council Development Area, with a pledge to deploy more health workers and expand grassroots healthcare to reduce maternal and child deaths.
The multi-million-naira project, delivered through a partnership between Ajoni LCDA and the Africa West Area Office of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, comes with upgraded medical infrastructure, modern equipment and a solar power system designed to keep essential services running.
Represented by the Commissioner for Health, Dr Oyebanji Filani, Mr Oyebanji said his administration would continue to invest in healthcare infrastructure and personnel, particularly in rural communities where access to medical services remains a major concern.
He said Ekiti had maintained one of the lowest maternal and child mortality rates in Nigeria and one of the country’s highest life expectancy indices, adding that the government would work to sustain the gains.
The governor commended the Ajoni LCDA chairman, Prince Michael Ogungbemi, for upgrading the facility and said the birth of a baby shortly after the completion of the project showed the immediate value of bringing functional healthcare closer to residents.
Mr Oyebanji directed the immediate deployment of nurses and other medical personnel to the centre. He also approved the construction of staff quarters and a perimeter fence.
He further directed the Ekiti State Health Insurance Scheme to integrate the facility into the state’s Ulerawa Health Insurance Scheme, a move expected to make services more affordable to residents.
The governor appealed to community leaders to provide temporary accommodation for the newly deployed health workers until the proposed staff quarters are completed.
“This facility will greatly improve healthcare services for pregnant women and nursing mothers. Our goal is clear: no woman should die during childbirth in Ekiti State,” he said.
Mr Ogungbemi thanked the governor and the Latter-day Saints for supporting the project, saying the increased autonomy enjoyed by local councils under the Oyebanji administration had created room for more community-focused development.
He said the renovation covered the building, medical equipment and power supply. The centre now has 20 units of 550-watt solar panels, an 8kW Deye inverter and a 16kWh Deye battery storage system.
According to him, the system would provide reliable electricity for critical medical operations and reduce the centre’s dependence on the public power supply.
Mr Ogungbemi also disclosed that the LCDA had run a three-year nutrition programme with the Bountiful Children Foundation of the United States, which supported more than 1,100 malnourished children in 10 communities.
He said the council had also organised free medical outreaches with Agbeyewa Farms and the Nigerian Youth Congress.
The Olu of Itapaji, Oba AbdulAzeez Abdulakareem Adebanjo, praised the governor for supporting the community and pledged that residents would protect the facility from vandalism.
The monarch, however, called for more government support, including perimeter fencing, security personnel and resident nurses.
He later conferred the traditional titles of Amuludun of Itapaji and Atayese of Itapaji on Mr Ogungbemi in recognition of his contributions to community development.
Beyond the health project, the LCDA chairman used the occasion to launch an empowerment programme for 400 residents.
The beneficiaries comprised 100 farmers who received agrochemicals, another 100 who received knapsack sprayers, 100 small business owners who received cash grants, and 100 vulnerable residents who received food palliatives.
The event attracted senior government officials, traditional rulers, religious leaders and local government officials, including the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Health, Mrs Olusola Igotun; Permanent Secretary, Ekiti State Hospitals Management Board, Dr Olasunkanmi Alabi; Executive Secretary, Primary Health Care Development Agency, Dr Akintunde Ogunsakin; and General Manager of EKHIS, Dr Charles Doherty.
