…Ondo State remains a trailblazer in health sector reforms.
…Gov Aiyedatiwa says we shall continue to ensure that we have healthy babies and mothers.
His Excellency Gov Dr Lucky Orimisan Aiyedatiwa has flagged off a 5-day Ondo State Maternal and Newborn Mortality Reduction Innovation & Initiative (MAMII) Co-Creation workshop on Monday, 26th May, 2025 at the Bliss World Hotel, Akure.
The special event gathered many healthcare actors across the state and the Federal Ministry of Health.
In a speech delivered by His Excellency Gov Aiyedatiwa through His Special Adviser on Health Prof Michael Simidele Odimayo, Gov Aiyedatiwa commended the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, our development partners and the industrious team at the Ondo State Ministry of Health and other agencies in the health sector for their commitments to this transformative initiative, otherwise known as MAMII.
Ondo State has long been a trailblazer in health sector reforms, and our participation in this national initiative is a reaffirmation of our collective commitment to protecting the lives of women and children across all communities.
Moreover, we recognize that improving health outcomes is only possible when there is deliberate and sustained investment, not just in infrastructure, but in the welfare and well-being of our health workforce and the broader population.
Gov Lucky Aiyedatiwa said, “I’m pleased to announce that our administration has begun implementing the minimum wage, which increased from #35,000 to #73,000, a bold and compassionate move that reflects our dedication to uplifting the living standards of our hardworking civil servants “.
In addition, we have approved the entry level of Medical Officers as Grade Level 13 and Nurses as Grade Level 10, aligning with best practices at the federal level and in order progressive states. This is part of our strategy to attract and retain top-tier professionals who will drive excellence in our healthcare delivery system.
Efforts are in the pipeline to recruit more health workers. Salaries of health workers have been adjusted upward and made attractive efforts are ongoing to revamp our secondary facilities for effective Comprehensive Emergency Obstetrics and Newborn Care(CEmONC). In addition, this administration would be constructing 50-100 bedded facilities in at least 5 of the secondary facilities across the 3 senatorial districts.
In our unrelenting pursuit of better health services for our people, I have also approved the rehabilitation of 102 Primary Health Care facilities across the state. These upgrades will not only focus on service areas but will include provisions for staff accomodation, ensuring a conducive work and service environment..
Furthermore, our government has committed over #98 million to vaccine coldchain and infrastructure, reaffirming our unwavering support for the National Immunization Plus Days (NIPDs) and routine immunization (RI) programs. We believe every child deserves the right to a healthy life, and this investment is a testament to that belief.
In line with our vision to achieve Universal Health Coverage, we have significantly expanded the reach of the State Health Insurance Scheme (ORANGHIS). Im proud to announce that retirees in Ondo state are now eligible to enrol in the scheme, a milestone made possible through the engagement of three Third-party administrator’s to ensure seamless access to healthcare services. This initiative not only guarantee financial protection for our citizens but also fosters a healthier population.
Additionally, the Abiyamo Scheme – our dedicated health insurance program indigent pregnant women and children under five, with over 54,682 beneficiaries to date, as these continue to enhance maternal and child health outcomes across the state. The Basic Health Care Provisions Programme ( Ilera Loro Scheme) further strengthens this effort by offering coverage to our vulnerable population.
We have also adopted the Perinatal and Child Death surveillance and Response (MPCDSR) program, which remains the most objective means of verifying the impact of our investment in the health sector and has over the 15 years, contributed to shaping our reproductive, maternal, newborn and child health policies and impacted notable reduction in preventable material and perinatal deaths.
These giant strides reflect our unwavering commitment to inclusive, accessible and life-saving health-care for all residents of Ondo state.
As a government, we remain fully committed to supporting the outcomes of this workshop and to taking bold , sustainable actions that will ensure no woman dies while giving life and that every newborn gets the chance to survive.
Notable in the workshop were: Dr Aminat Mohammed (Director of Child Health, Federal Ministry of Health), HRM Oba Raphael Oluwadare Ojo (The Olupogun of Ipogun), Dr. Adeniran Ikuomola (Permanent Secretary Ondo State Ministry of Health), Dr Ojo Adiji(Permanent Secretary Ondo State Hospital Management Board), Dr Oyeneyin(Director General, Ondo State Contributory Health Insurance Commission), Dr Akintan ( Ag. CMD UNIMEDTH,Akure), Dr Akintade (CMD, State Specialist Hospital Ondo). Others include the representative of Clinton Health Access Initiative (CHAI), the MSI and the NHIA among others.
E-signed;
Ben Ikuejamofo
Head of Media & Publicity: Office of the Special Adviser on Health to Ondo State Governor.
