Ekiti State has achieved a significant milestone in healthcare by surpassing its four-year target to reduce mortality rates, according to the 2024 National Demographic Health Survey. The survey reports that the state has successfully halved neonatal, infant, child, and under-5 mortality rates, with reductions of 57%, 53%, 55%, and 54%, respectively. The State Commissioner for Health and Human Services, Dr. Oyebanji Filani, presented the findings to the State Executive Council, highlighting these achievements as a testament to Ekiti’s effective healthcare initiatives.One of the report’s key findings is the remarkable 36% drop in the rate of teenage pregnancies among 15- to 19-year-olds over the past four years, with rates declining from 14.2% to 5.9%. Dr. Filani noted that Ekiti has moved from 31st to 5th place nationwide in neonatal mortality performance, with the lives of an additional 45,000 under-5 children saved between 2019 and 2024. The report also shows improvements in family planning access, facility-based deliveries, and skilled birth attendant support for women, as well as a 38% increase in full vaccination rates for children aged 12 to 23 months.Dr. Filani praised Governor Biodun Oyebanji’s administration for its dedication to healthcare and human capital development, emphasizing its commitment to sustaining these gains. He assured that the state would continue to prioritize health and wellbeing, with a vision to fast-track progress toward Sustainable Development Goal 3 (Good Health and Well-being) by 2030.
