In a bid to ensure that qualitative health care services are delivered to the people, the Ekiti State Governor , Dr. Kayode Fayemi has said that all Specialist and General Hospitals in the State would be renovated and upgraded to meet the need of the people.
The Governor made this known in Oye Ekiti at the commencement of the second phase of his town hall meetings with the people, aimed at getting feedbacks from government on how well their requests in last year’s meeting had been met and getting their inputs in the proposed 2013 budget.
Dr. Fayemi who held public meetings with people from Oye and Ikole local government areas on Wednesday is expected to end the meeting with all towns in the 16 local government areas of the State next Tuesday. The tour took the Governor to Oye, Ilupeju, Ikole, Ijesha Isu and Oke Ayedun.
Responding to the requests of the people, the Governor stated that attention would be shifted from the 293 primary health centres in the State to the secondary health facilities so that they can deliver quality service to the people as this is one of the issues that would be addressed in the 2013 budget.
Fayemi said the primary health centres have been adequately catered for but government only needed to closely monitor the health workers in the centres to ensure they carry out their duties without neglect.
He stressed the importance placed on the health sector by his administration; saying that he is committed to ensuring a healthy society.
While noting that his administration had done virtually all that the people requested last year, especially in the area of infrastructure, the Governor stated that there is no community in the State that has not had at least a completed or an ongoing project being carried out there by his administration, promising that he would do more since he was elected to serve the people.
Fayemi assured that another round of construction of 5km of roads would begin in January as some of the existing ones will be completed in December; adding that the vision of his administration is to make all parts of the State accessible by motorable roads by 2014.
He added that the reconstruction of Ilupeju-Ire-Igbemo road would start next month so that it can open up the now resuscitated Ire burnt industry in Ire Ekiti to business activities; saying that when the industry commences full operation in November, it would also create more employment opportunities and boost trade in the area.
Governor Fayemi said all the strides he had made so far in the State are not extra-ordinary but things that are expected of a responsible and responsive government; saying that he is committed to fulfilling all he had promised the people.
On water provision, the Governor disclosed that five water treatment plants among other projects have been set aside for commissioning during the celebration of his second year in office.
These according to him would boost water supply to communities which have not had potable water for decades while two reservoirs would be constructed in Ilupeju and Ire Ekiti and new pipes would be installed to replace the old damaged ones; adding that communities which are supplied with water by Ero dam would begin to enjoy water again before the week ends as the government just fixed the high lift pump that got damaged at the dam.
In their comments, the people showered encomiums on the Governor for keeping to his promises, even as an old man, Pa Odetola Dada who was said to be more than 90 years thanked him for the social security scheme which still remains the first in Nigeria.
However, communities like Oliver Twist, requested for more social amenities, especially Orisunmibare community in Itapa Ekiti which requested the Goverrnor to assist them with rural electrification like he had done for Oke Ako community who just got connected to the national grid a few months ago.
A major highlights of the tour was the massive defection of hundreds of members of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) in Oke Ayedun and Oye towns. they were received to the ACN fold by the ACN Ekiti State chairman, High Chief Jide Awe.
Dignitaries that accompanied the Governor on the tour include former Governor of the old Ondo State, Ambassador Bamidele Olomilua, Speaker Ekiti State House of Asembly, Dr Adewale Omirin, Secretary to the State Government, Alhaji Ganiyu owolabi, Chief of Staff to the Governor, Mr Yemi Adaramodu, state commissioners and chairmen of local government councils in the state.
Last modified: October 3, 2012