Ulerawa: How Oyebanji’s reforms is turning Ekiti public hospitals into centre of hope

In Ekiti, public healthcare is undergoing a rebirth. Once crippled by years of neglect, public hospitals that many had lost faith in are now springing back to life through reforms championed by Governor Biodun Oyebanji. Central to this transformation is the Ulerawa Health Insurance Scheme, a flagship  initiative that has become a lifeline, offering residents particularly the vulnerable unhindered access to quality and quality healthcare services, RASAQ IBRAHIM writes…..

AT midnight in Iye-Ekiti, in Ilejemeje Local Government, the cries of a 36-years- old woman, Mrs Pelumi Olorunsola  in labour broke the silence of the community. The moonlight shone over the houses, and the streets were quiet.

For her husband, Sunday Olorunsola, fear gripped his heart. The memories of heavy hospital bills and debt from their first child still haunted him. Their first child had been born in a private hospital in Ado-Ekiti, the Ekiti State capital. The joy of the birth had been overshadowed by bills that nearly drained their savings. “We sold part of our farmland to pay for the hospital. It was the happiest and hardest day of my life, ” Olorunsola recalled.

Their second child had been delivered by a local birth attendant in the community four years earlier. The delivery came with complications, and though they did everything they could, the child did not survive. The painful loss left emotional scars that never healed and reinforced fear.

When Pelumi went into labour with their third child, fear returned. But this time, things were different.  Just a few streets away, the lights of the newly renovated General Hospital shone brightly in the night. The hospital, once neglected, now showed signs of care and hope for residents of the community.

Olorunsola helped his wife into a tricycle with some luggage, and they made their way to the health centre. Every step was tense, but also filled with hope. When they arrived, midwives welcomed them warmly.

The facility was equipped with modern equipment including general ultrasound (3 probes), foetal Monitor CTG machine, defibrillator AED,  anesthesia Machine, blood Count and Electrolyte analyzers, patient monitors and stocked medical supplies, things that had been missing for years in hospital.

Pelumi was attended to immediately, with nurses explaining each step to her and her husband. The delivery process was smooth, professional, and free of charge, removing the fear of hospital bills that had weighed on them before.

Around 5:45 am, a bouncing, healthy baby girl was born. Pelumi held her daughter in her arms, exhausted but smiling. Her husband’s eyes filled with tears of relief. “I couldn’t believe we didn’t pay a single kobo. They treated her like we were in a big hospital. For people like us, that’s a blessing we never expected,” Olorunsola added.

In gratitude, the family named their baby girl Ulera, a way of showing appreciation and keeping alive the memory of the flagship health initiative that saved both mother and child.

That night was more than a safe delivery. It was a sign of change and a new dawn in the state’s health sector. For families like the Olorunsolas, unfettered access to quality and efficient healthcare services was no longer a distant promise but a reality. Public Hospitals that had been abandoned were now centres of hope, staffed with professionals and equipped with essential equipment.

Across the 16 local government areas, many families are experiencing similar changes. Mothers are delivering safely, children are receiving vaccines on time, and rural communities are beginning to see healthcare as a right, not a privilege.

The Ulerawa Health Insurance Scheme is quietly transforming lives, preventing tragedies like the one that once struck Olorunsolas. Through the initiative, free deliveries are offered across 177 primary health centres.

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Under the Ulerawa,  over 4,000 babies have been safely delivered and free of charge this year alone, while more than 400,000 residents have accessed free healthcare services  in public facilities. The initiative has now been expanded to cover all 3.6 million residents, including pensioners, with more than 9,000 retirees already enrolled, a move that underscores the Governor Oyebanji-led government’s commitment to protecting its elderly population.

Between January and September 2025, over 778,000 free healthcare services were rendered, including 10,935 safe deliveries, 104,278 antenatal services, 200,369 child immunisations, 359,501 malaria treatments, and 40,784 family planning sessions.

The hitherto story of neglected primary healthcare centres, and the exodus of medical professionals is slowly giving way to a new narrative. Under Governor Oyebanji, the state is frantically making measurable progress towards ensuring universal health coverage and bringing affordable, quality, efficient and effective healthcare service delivery closer to its people.

The transformation, many agree, is not just about constructing new buildings or purchasing new medical equipment. It is about a deliberate, well-planned effort to strengthen the entire health system from leadership and governance to workforce development, community-level access to care and disease prevention.

From his first day in office, the governor set out his administration’s key priorities in the health ecosystem with the aim of overhauling the state’s health architecture. The Ministry of Health was tasked with developing a comprehensive governance framework to enhance accountability, transparency, and strategic alignment. Out of that came a multi-year operational plan (2024-2026), ensuring that capital projects extend beyond a single budget cycle and align with the broader vision of universal health coverage.

For the first time in decades, the idea of universal health coverage, where no one is denied treatment because of cost or distance, is beginning to take shape in Ekiti. What was once a lofty policy phrase has become a lived reality for thousands of families who now access care at no cost under the state’s inclusive health schemes.

From the rolling hills of Efon Alaye to the farmland of Ikole and the lowlands of Omuo Ekiti, the residents who once dreaded hospital bills now walk into the hospitals with renewed confidence that they will access quality medical care at no cost or affordable price. A big thanks to the radical reforms and comprehensive initiative initiated by Governor Oyebanji.

Through strategic investments in the state’s health infrastructure, manpower, and health financing,  particularly the Ulerawa Health Insurance Scheme, Ekiti has built a virile framework that protects the citizens from health expenses and ensures that essential services reach even the most remote areas.

Over the past three years, the Oyebanji administration has placed healthcare at the centre of its development agenda, pursuing reforms that balance policy with compassion. Hospitals that once struggled to serve their communities are now functioning efficiently, while rural dwellers who previously travelled long distances for care can now access services closer to home.

Through the Ulerawa Health scheme, the Oyebanji administration has succeeded in reducing out-of-pocket expenses that often push families into poverty, while creating a sustainable mechanism for preventive and curative care.

Beyond Ulerawa, the state has intensified its war against malaria through the Ekiti State Malaria Elimination Programme. Between 2024 and 2025, over 736,381 free malaria rapid diagnostic tests were conducted, while 591,489 doses of ACT medication were distributed to patients who tested positive. In the same period, no fewer than 116,063 pregnant women received preventive malaria drugs. These strategic interventions have contributed to a notable decline in malaria-related morbidity and mortality,  particularly among children and pregnant women.

This year, more than 210,000 girls aged 9–14 received the Human Papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine, achieving 91% of target coverage and positioning Ekiti as one of Nigeria’s top performers in the campaign against cervical cancer. Also, the state has placed 93% of people living with HIV/AIDS on treatment, helping them suppress the viral loads.

Governor Oyebanji’s administration’s focus on infrastructure renewal has equally been transformative and revolutionary. A total of 103 Primary Health Centres are currently being revitalised across the 16 local government areas of the state, ensuring that every community has access to a functional, modern, and well-equipped facility.

At the secondary care level, nine general hospitals in Ijan, Ijesa-Isu, Ilawe, Ayede, Iye, Okemesi, Efon-Alaaye, Ilupeju/Itapa, and Ifaki have been fully renovated and re-equipped with first-class diagnostic and state-of-the-art medical equipment, reducing the need for patients to travel long distances for medical care. The renovation of the nine general hospitals, alongside the modernisation of facilities, was a continuation of the transformation started by ex-governor Kayode Fayemi, who renovated 11 general hospitals in the state before leaving office.

The newly revamped general hospitals were equipped with cutting-edge medical equipment such as General Ultrasound (3 probes), Foetal Monitor CTG Machine, Defibrillator AED, Anaesthesia Machine, Blood Count and Electrolyte Analysers, Patient Monitors, and 24-hour solar-powered lighting, among others.

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To further expand access to qualitative and affordable healthcare delivery, three new hospitals are being established in Awo-Ekiti, Ipao-Ekiti and Ikogosi, bringing healthcare service closer to underserved communities.

Ekiti State University Teaching Hospital (EKSUTH), Ado-Ekiti, the flagship tertiary institution in the state, is also receiving special attention with the renovation of key wards, including the children’s ward, theatre suites, Accident and Emergency ward, dialysis centre and several wards.

The government is also constructing an 80-bed multi-purpose modern building at EKSUTH that will house an ultra-modern pharmacy, conference centre,  library, offices, and VIP suites. The facility, when completed will not only expand capacity but also enhance the quality of service and training opportunities for the healthcare professionals.

Recognising that infrastructures alone cannot heal without a motivated workforce, Governor Oyebanji has prioritised the welfare of healthcare professionals. Salaries and hazard allowances have been reviewed upward to the healthcare workers’ admiration, while new benefits have been introduced to improve morale and stem the tide of migration among health professionals, a challenge that has plagued many states.

To bridge manpower gaps, Governor Oyebanji’s administration recruited 100 health workers for primary healthcare centres and another 150 for secondary facilities, bringing renewed energy to service delivery. While the Ekiti  University Teaching Hospital has  also  received increased subvention to stabilise their operations, the payment of the Medical Residency  Training Fund has further encouraged continuous professional development.

Similarly, the Ekiti Sexual Assault Referral Centre has also been upgraded, with a new branch established at the General Hospital, Oye-Ekiti. Survivors of sexual and gender-based violence now  have access to free medical care, counselling, and legal support. The Drug and Health Supplies Management Agency has also been transformed into a pharma-grade warehouse to ensure proper storage of medicines and consumables.

At a time when disease outbreaks pose global threats, Ekiti  has stayed ahead through deliberate planning and quiet efficiency. By decentralising its incident-management system to all 16 local government areas and setting up rapid response teams in every ward, the state has strengthened its ability to detect and contain health risks before they spread.

The strategic and innovative approach has  already proved its worth. Despite constant alerts and rising  concerns in neighbouring states this year, Ekiti state recorded no major outbreak.

The Oyebanji-led administration’s multi-level interventions have begun yielding measurable results. Routine data and the National Demographic and Health Survey and other  independent  assessments show progressive improvements in key health indicators including reduced child and maternal mortality, increased access to primary healthcare as well as higher immunisation coverage.