…Orientation programme held for newly recruited health workers

By Precious Owolabi, Ado-Ekiti

The Ekiti State Government, in partnership with the Immunisation Plus and Malaria Progress by Accelerating Coverage and Transforming Services (IMPACT) Project, has recruited 100 skilled birth attendants to enhance maternal and infant health services across the state.

Speaking at the orientation programme for the newly recruited birth attendants in Ado-Ekiti, the Chairperson of the Ekiti State Primary Health Care Development Agency, Dr Funke Ogunbunmi, stated that the recruitment aims to address the noticeable human resource gaps at the primary healthcare level.

Dr Ogunbunmi emphasised that the new recruits, as skilled birth attendants, are expected to support healthcare facilities in delivering high-quality maternal and child health services at the community level.

She commended Governor Biodun Oyebanji for his continued investment and impactful interventions in the health sector, noting that these efforts have significantly improved the state’s health indices in recent times.

In his remarks, the Executive Secretary of the Agency, Dr Rasheed Adepoju, expressed confidence that the new workers would contribute meaningfully by delivering quality healthcare services to people at the grassroots.

Dr Adepoju urged the new staff to justify the government’s trust in them through dedication and commitment, helping to reduce maternal and under-five mortality rates across the state.

He also assured them of promising career progression, training opportunities, and professional exposure within the Primary Health Care system.

He encouraged them to exhibit good conduct and maintain respectful interactions with clients to boost service utilisation and improve health outcomes at the facilities.

Earlier, the Project Manager of the IMPACT Project, Dr Sunday Omoya, explained that the recruitment of skilled birth attendants—including nurses, midwives, and Community Health Officers—was part of the initiative’s goal to increase the number of qualified personnel available to attend to pregnant women and children at primary health centres.

Dr Omoya reiterated that the core objective of the IMPACT Project is to reduce maternal and under-five mortality by strengthening primary healthcare systems.

He stated that the engagement of 100 skilled birth attendants is designed to complement existing staff in delivering quality care at the grassroots level.

He further disclosed that the newly engaged workers would be integrated into the Ekiti State Public Service through the Local Government Service Commission after completing their one-year contract with the IMPACT Project—provided they demonstrate commitment and dedication to their duties.

The orientation, he added, was organised to equip the recruits with essential knowledge for smooth integration into the primary healthcare system, foster quality service delivery, and instil a proper orientation towards patient-centred care.