Ibadan, Oyo State– The Oyo State Government has announced the receipt of 22,200 data tools designed for distribution to healthcare facilities across all 33 local government areas of the state. This donation is part of an initiative by the Society for Family Health (SFH) in partnership with Population Services International (PSI).

The handover took place on Monday at the state secretariat in Agodi, Ibadan, where Muideen Olatunji, Executive Secretary of the Oyo State Primary Health Care Board, accepted the items on behalf of the government. Olatunji emphasized that addressing the healthcare challenges in the state requires collaborative efforts beyond the capabilities of both state and federal governments.

During the event, Olatunji, who was represented by Adeyemi Adewole, Assistant Director of Planning, Research, and Statistics, praised SFH and PSI for their steadfast support. He highlighted the increasing healthcare burden resulting from a rapidly growing population and a shrinking workforce, a situation worsened by the “Japa” syndrome, which refers to the emigration of skilled professionals from Nigeria.

“The population is blooming every day while our staff strength is dwindling. The Japa syndrome is significantly impacting our healthcare services. We’ve attempted to hire more healthcare workers, but many leave shortly after joining,” Olatunji said. “If we want to avoid failing the community, it is imperative that we focus on self-care.”

He addressed the importance of partnerships, stating, “The progress we have made is largely due to the peace in our state and the unwavering support from our partners. I want to sincerely thank you for your committed assistance in family planning efforts within Oyo State.”

Fidelis Edet, Business and Strategic Information Manager of DISC-SFH, stated that the donation includes 15,000 client cards, 5,000 stock cards, 600 monthly summary forms, 600 family planning registers, 500 daily consumption registers, and 500 requisition, issue, and receipt forms. This contribution aims to bolster data reporting for family planning services in the region.

“Following a two-week visit, we conducted supervisory assessments at various sites to evaluate the service delivery and adhere to the training provided on empathy-based counseling techniques,” Edet explained. “Oyo State has demonstrated impressive family planning documentation.”

Solomon Odafe, Technical Project Adviser at PSI, confirmed that the collaborative program is active across six states, including Oyo, and highlighted the positive outcomes during visits to several local government areas. Edafe noted that the presented data tools are essential for healthcare providers in capturing accurate service delivery information.

The donation is expected to enhance the efficiency of healthcare services and improve family planning initiatives throughout Oyo State.