The Ondo State Government has commenced the distribution of appointment letters to over 930 newly recruited health professionals in a major effort to strengthen healthcare delivery across the state.
The exercise, which began on Thursday at the headquarters of the Ondo State Primary Health Care Development Agency (OSPHCDA) in Akure, involves the deployment of health workers to primary healthcare facilities across the 18 local government areas of the state.
The newly recruited personnel comprise medical doctors, nurses, midwives, community health extension workers, laboratory scientists, pharmacy technicians, health information officers and other healthcare professionals expected to address manpower shortages in primary healthcare centres statewide.
Speaking during the flag-off ceremony, the Permanent Secretary of OSPHCDA, Dr. Francis Akanbiemu, described the recruitment exercise as a strategic intervention aimed at strengthening frontline healthcare services and improving access to quality medical care, particularly in rural communities.
According to him, the recruitment process was transparent, merit-based and aligned with the state’s Human Resource for Health Policy.
Akanbiemu commended Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa for approving the large-scale recruitment, noting that the move reflects the administration’s commitment to improving the health and wellbeing of residents.
He said, “The approval of this recruitment demonstrates the governor’s strong political will and understanding that a functional health system is built on skilled and motivated personnel.”
The Permanent Secretary disclosed that the newly recruited workers had completed documentation and would be immediately deployed to underserved and hard-to-reach communities across the state.
He explained that the deployment would help reduce patient waiting time, improve antenatal and immunisation coverage, and enhance the state’s response to maternal and child health challenges.
Akanbiemu further noted that the Aiyedatiwa administration has continued to prioritise healthcare through the revitalisation of primary healthcare centres, provision of essential drugs and continuous training of health workers, all geared towards achieving universal health coverage in the state.
He revealed that the recruitment exercise comprises 800 health workers across various cadres in addition to the earlier recruitment of 130 doctors and nurses, bringing the total number of health professionals employed in the first batch to 930.
Some of the beneficiaries expressed appreciation to the state government for the opportunity.
A newly appointed nurse-midwife, Mrs. Adebimpe Olorunfemi, described the employment as life-changing and pledged that she and her colleagues would justify the confidence reposed in them through professionalism, diligence and compassionate service delivery.
Similarly, Mrs. Ajibike Afolayan and Mr. Azeez Olayinka, a pharmacy technician and a scientific officer respectively, promised to contribute meaningfully to improving healthcare services across the state.
The government also assured residents that the deployment of the new personnel would be closely monitored to ensure equitable distribution and effective service delivery across all communities.
Community leaders and Ward Development Committees were urged to support the health workers and provide an enabling environment for them to perform their duties effectively.
The state government reaffirmed its commitment to building a resilient healthcare system capable of meeting the needs of all residents, stressing that the recruitment exercise is aimed not only at creating employment but also at saving lives and improving health outcomes across the Sunshine State.