The Speaker of the Oyo State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Adebo Ogundoyin, has called for the establishment of more General Hospitals in underserved Local Government Areas (LGAs) across the state.
This advocacy was contained in a motion sponsored by Rt. Hon. Ogundoyin and co-sponsored by Hon. P.G. Ojedokun of Ibarapa North/Central, titled, “Need for the Executive Arm of Government to Establish General Hospitals in Underserved LGAs, Increase Healthcare Personnel, and Expand Training Opportunities for Intern Students Across the State.”
According to the motion, six LGAs — Atiba, Ibadan South East, Ido, Ogo Oluwa, Ona Ara, and Oyo West, currently lack General Hospitals.
This has left residents in these areas with limited access to essential healthcare services, forcing many to travel long distances for emergency and diagnostic care.
“The absence of General Hospitals in these LGAs has placed a significant burden on residents who require timely and quality healthcare. Addressing this gap is critical for improving healthcare delivery in our state,” the Speaker said.
The motion also highlighted the inadequacy of healthcare personnel in existing facilities despite recent recruitment efforts by the Oyo State Government.
The motion called for an expansion of the staffing initiative to reduce the workload on current healthcare workers, alleviate burnout, and ensure the delivery of high-quality services.
Also, the motion emphasized the need to increase internship slots for health students, including nurses, pharmacists, medical laboratory scientists, and physiotherapists.
The motion noted that only 24 pharmacists, 20 nurses, 23 laboratory scientists, and 25 physiotherapists are currently accommodated annually for internships in the state, a provision deemed insufficient for the sector’s workforce needs.
“Expanding internship opportunities is essential to bridging the gap in the healthcare workforce and providing hands-on training and mentorship for students transitioning into professional roles,” the motion stated.
The Speaker commended Governor Seyi Makinde for his commitment to improving healthcare in the state but stressed the need for adequate funding and resources to support the proposed initiatives.
He advocated for a comprehensive, integrated approach combining the establishment of new General Hospitals with expanded personnel and internship opportunities.
As part of the motion, the Oyo State House of Assembly Committee on Health was directed to conduct a thorough evaluation of all state government healthcare facilities.
This assessment according to the House, aims to identify facilities that require upgrades and determine their operational viability.