Ekiti State has surpassed its four year target, and halved all mortality indicators according to the 2024 National Demographic Health Survey.

According to the survey, Neonatal, Infant, Child and Under 5 mortality rates have all reduced by 57%, 53%, 55%, and 54% respectively in the State.

In his words, “45,000 additional under-5 lives have been saved between 2019 and 2024 representing 75% of children under 5 that would have died if we maintain 2018 under 5 mortality figures.” Also, the states moved from 31st to 5th best performer in neonatal mortality between 2019 and 2024.

Rendering the report to the State Executive Council, the State Commissioner Health and Human Services, Dr. Oyebanji Filani noted that there has been a significant 36percent decrease in the proportion of teenagers aged between 15and 19years that got pregnant in the past four years in Ekiti State from 14.2percent to 5.9percent.

Dr. Filani added that more women that are married or sexually active have access to the needed family planning services while there has been an appreciable increase in facility-based deliveries with more women delivering their babies assisted by skilled birth attendants.

Filani said that the report also indicated that the proportion of children aged 12 to 23 months who were fully vaccinated increased by 38% compared to the results from five years ago.

He described the report as an authentication of the commitment of Governor Biodun Oyebanji administration to the general wellbeing of the people and the Governor’s unrelenting efforts to improve human capital formation and health care delivery system.

He assured that no stone would be left unturned towards promoting wellbeing and healthy lives for all, adding that the State remained committed to sustaining the attainments as well as fast-tracking efforts to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG)-3 before year 2030