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Text of the Address by
His Excellency
Dr. Kayode Fayemi, CON
Governor, Ekiti State, Nigeria
on the occasion of the
COMMISSIONING OF 187 SOLAR DIRECT DRIVE
COLD CHAIN EQUIPMENT
at
Ekiti State Central Medical Stores
Ado-Ekiti, Ekiti State
Tuesday, January 12, 2021
Protocols
1. Distinguished ladies and gentlemen, I am highly delighted to be in
your midst today on this auspicious occasion of the Commissioning
of 187 Solar Direct Drive Cold Chain Equipment in our dear State.
This is another milestone in the history of healthcare delivery in
Ekiti State. No doubt, this further testifies to our efforts as a
government in our continued quest at repositioning the health
sector and make qualitative healthcare services available and
accessible to Ekiti-kete.
2. We are here today to witness yet another remarkable result of our
partnerships with the Federal Government. As a responsible and
responsive government, we believe health is wealth, hence, we do
not joke with the good health of our people. We gave our word that
in Ekiti State, things would only continue to get better and the

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commissioning of these cold chain equipment is an attestation to
the fulfilment of our promise to Ekiti-Kete.
3. The Cold Chain equipment that we are commissioning today,
means coordinated events in temperature controlled
environments to store, manage and transport the lifesaving
products otherwise known as vaccines which must be continuously
stored in limited temperature range from the time they are
manufactured until the moment of vaccination.
4. Ladies and gentlemen, in my New Year address to the good people
of Ekiti State, I informed you that we had procured Solar-Powered
Refrigerators which would be available in the State as from
January, 2021. The total number of refrigerators expected is two
hundred and thirty-one (231), while one hundred and eighty-seven
(187) have just been received, we are awaiting the remaining forty-
four (44) any moment from now. This is in a bid to boost Cold Chain
System management and facilitate uninterrupted availability and
distribution of vaccines in their optimal storage temperature and
quality that will enhance our immunization activities towards
curbing preventable deaths and attainment of health for all. The
ideal of immunization is to ensure that no child less than five years
or pregnant woman is left out of vaccination processes in our
efforts to improve the neonatal, infant and maternal health indices.
5. This is another promise made and kept, as our people will have
better access to life saving vaccines to safeguard them against
avoidable death due to infectious diseases. This was made possible
through collaborative and counterpart funding of the State with the
Federal Government.
6. You will recall our proactive efforts in the preparedness and
containment of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 through our

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various collaborations and investments in health infrastructure
that included but not limited to procurement of the Modular
Laboratory for COVID-19 and other infectious diseases testing,
renovation of One Secondary and Twenty (20) Primary Health
Facilities with more still in the waiting list; and upgrading and
equipping of the Oba Adejugbe General Hospital for the
containment of all infectious diseases. All these are to ensure that
our people are safe from untimely and avoidable death from
infectious diseases.
7. The average National figures of maternal mortality ratio of
512/1000, infant mortality of 67/100,000 and Under five years old
mortality of 132/100,000 are unacceptable to us in Ekiti State,
hence our intent for all of these investments in health services to
improve the maternal and child mortality ratios which had hitherto
suffered a set-back immediately after our first administration. We
intend to reverse the abysmal trend of our health data in the
remaining years of this administration as we have put mechanisms
in place for sustainability through the State Health Insurance
Scheme which we launched on 10th July, 2020 in order to achieve
Universal Health Coverage. Our State Health Insurance Scheme is
a process that ensures that people have access to needed
preventive, curative and rehabilitative health services that will be
effective and of sufficient quality, while also ensuring that people
do not suffer financial hardship when paying for these services.
8. The Basic Health Care Provision Fund is yet another strategy
employed by our administration for funding infrastructural,
personnel, health commodities and equipment requirements of
one health facility per Political Ward. With over Three Hundred
Million Naira(N300,000,000.00) set aside, One Hundred and
Seventy-Seven (177) health facilities in all the Wards have been
selected to benefit from the fund and the money has been disbursed

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to the State Account for commencement of the programme in the
first quarter of this 2021.
9. In order to make the Programme effective, I approved the
recruitment of medical officers in October, 2020 which was done to
ensure that all Local Government Areas of Ekiti State have doctors
to attend to their health care needs.
10. At this juncture, let me express the profound appreciation of
our State to the National Primary Health Care Development Agency
through my friend and brother, the Executive Director, Dr. Faisal
Shuaib for the strong partnerships and collaborative efforts with
Ekiti State. It is on note that our achievements in health and high
Immunization coverage especially the well rated yellow fever mass
preventive vaccination held in January 2020, introduction of the
meningitis’ and second dose of measles’ vaccines into our routine
immunization schedules amongst others, is a testimony to the
disposition of our government to health matters which occupy a
vantage position in our Restoration Agenda.
11. I also wish to appreciate the relentless efforts of our partners,
the World Health Organization (WHO), UNICEF and a host of others
for their support without whom our success stories in healthcare
services would be incomplete. Their invaluable contribution to
COVID-19 containment is a special icing on the cake of our
collective preparedness.
12. I salute our front line health workers and the generality of
health personnel for their various roles of saving lives of our dear
people. Your efforts at this critical period of COVID-19 pandemic
are commendable and may God reward your good deeds to the
State and its people. Without being immodest, I am proud of our
Medical Practitioners in Ekiti State. You keep demonstrating

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uncommon attribute of Omoluabi as you discharge your duty.
Please keep it up! Once again, I appreciate you all.
13. Let me also commend the Honourable Commissioner for
Health, who has since his inauguration brought to the fore his
wealth of experience as a Technocrat and Health Financing
Manager to the implementation of Health programmes in line with
our vision and mission for better healthcare delivery in Ekiti State.
Thank you for a job well-done!
14. Ladies and gentlemen, on this note, it is my privilege and
honour to officially commission the Solar Direct Drive Cold Chain
Equipment to the Glory of God and for the benefit of our people.
15. Thank you all and God bless.
Dr. Kayode Fayemi, CON
Governor