Oyebanji offers free medical treatment to Ekiti farmers
No fewer than 500 farmers and farm managers in Ekiti State have benefited from a free medical outreach organised by the state government as part of efforts to boost food
No fewer than 500 farmers and farm managers in Ekiti State have benefited from a free medical outreach organised by the state government as part of efforts to boost food production.
The outreach, facilitated by the Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on Farm Settlement and Agriculture, Mr. Temitope Adewole, provided beneficiaries with free eye examinations, prescription glasses, screening for diabetes and hypertension, drugs, as well as dental services.
Speaking during the flag off of the health initiative, Adewole said the programme was designed to extend the healthcare programmes of the Ekiti State Governor, Biodun Oyebanji, to farmers who might not have the time to visit health facilities due to their tight schedules on the farm.
He noted that the state government was committed to increasing annual agricultural output to ensure food surplus in the state, stressing that such a goal could only be achieved if farmers remained healthy.
“I would like to start by expressing my heartfelt gratitude to our hardworking farmers in Ekiti. They have made us proud by turning several of the Governor's initiatives into reality,” he said.
Adewole stated that the state recorded a food surplus last year as a result of various interventions introduced by the Oyebanji administration.
He listed the initiatives to include free clearing of one hectare of farmland per farmer, adding that in some cases, up to 10 or 20 hectares were cleared at no cost.
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He also said the government introduced a 50 per cent subsidy on agrochemicals and mechanisation.
“For instance, if mechanisation costs N100,000, the farmer only pays N50,000. Our farmers have taken advantage of these initiatives, resulting in food surplus across the state,” he said.
Beyond agriculture, Adewole said the governor had made significant investments in the health sector, including the renovation of 13 hospitals, while nine others are undergoing renovation.
He added that 103 primary healthcare facilities across the 16 local government areas had been revitalised and that nearly 500,000 residents had accessed free healthcare services through the state's Ulera Insurance Scheme.
Speaking at the event, the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Agriculture, Mr Babatope Ojo, and other government officials commended Adewole for the initiative and called for its sustenance.
Some of the beneficiaries described the outreach as timely, saying it provided them with an opportunity to check their health status and prevent ailments that could affect their productivity.
