*Commissions drug warehouse, distributes equipment to Primary Healthcare Centres
Ekiti State Governor, Mr. Biodun Oyebanji, has promised to make quality healthcare a right for all citizens, rather than a privilege, in order to improve life expectancy and sustain the progress made in controlling child and maternal mortality rates.
The Governor said his administration is determined to fight head-on the menace of drug counterfeiting, which exposes citizens to sudden death and a surge of emergency ailments that could cause death and infirmity in society.
Oyebanji stated this in Ado Ekiti on Thursday while flagging off the distribution of equipment to Primary Healthcare Centres (PHCs) and commissioning the Pharma-Grade Warehouse located within the precincts of the Ekiti State University Teaching Hospital (EKSUTH).
Governor Oyebanji noted that primary healthcare facilities are crucial to improving life expectancy, being the closest and most affordable health services to the people at the grassroots.
He explained that the new pharma-grade warehouse of the Drug Management Agency and the distribution of medical equipment to PHCs are demonstrations of the government’s commitment to the health of the people and reflect the growing capacity to attract partnerships and investments that strengthen the economy and improve quality of life.
He disclosed that the warehouse, built with the support of the Global Fund, stands as a key pillar of an effective and transparent drug management system and provides the Drug Management Agency with the infrastructure it needs to operate at the highest professional standard.
Oyebanji expressed confidence that the facility would ensure the continuous availability of quality, safe, and affordable medical supplies for hospitals and health facilities across the state.
Speaking further at the colourful event, Governor Oyebanji revealed that the agency’s average monthly revenue has risen from ₦28 million to ₦75 million, demonstrating greater efficiency, accountability, and sustainability in the drug supply system.
He was delighted that about 200,000 Ekiti residents have benefited from Ulera Wa health services, while nearly 750,000 people have benefited since the inception of the initiative, which has reduced out-of-pocket expenditure for health services and bolstered access to quality healthcare.
“With this facility, Ekiti State now has the capacity to maintain an adequate supply of medicines and consumables, prevent frequent stock-outs, and effectively curb the circulation of fake and substandard drugs within our borders. It represents not just an investment in infrastructure, but in the health security of our people.
“The results speak for themselves. Before the establishment of the Drug Management Agency, only about 43% of health facilities in the state had regular access to essential medicines. Today, that figure has risen to 89%. Primary healthcare coverage now stands at 80%, while both secondary and tertiary facilities have achieved 100% coverage.”
Oyebanji added that the revitalization of 103 primary healthcare facilities across the 16 local government areas under the World Bank-supported IMPACT project was a strategic investment that complements the broader push toward Universal Health Coverage.
The Governor stated that his administration is making deliberate efforts to improve the welfare of health workers through enhanced salary structures and has approved the employment of 100 additional health workers for PHCs and 150 for secondary health facilities to close existing manpower gaps.
Earlier in his remarks, the Commissioner for Health and Human Services, Dr. Oyebanji Filani, said the Governor’s prompt approval of the counterpart funding made it possible for the state to secure approval for the warehouse, noting that Ekiti was initially not on the list of states to benefit from the project.
Dr. Filani stated that the equipment provided for PHCs across the wards and 16 local government areas would enhance the proficiency of health workers and help tackle child and maternal mortality and morbidity, while broadening access to healthcare at the grassroots level.
“This project could not have been achieved without the speedy approval of counterpart funding by the Governor. This is not only a fulfillment of his administration’s vision but also a major step for the entire people of the state who are expecting improved healthcare delivery. I know they will be grateful to this administration for this project.”
The General Manager of the Ekiti State Drug Management and Supply Agency, Pharm. Olajide Kolawole, described the project as remarkable, being the first of its kind in the country and a clear testament to the shared prosperity vision and the government’s commitment to providing every citizen with safe, improved, and secure healthcare delivery.
In a bid to attain Universal Health Coverage, Kolawole said the agency has signed a memorandum of understanding with reputable international organizations to ensure effective drug acquisition, regulation, and supply in the state.
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