Jericho Specialist Hospital, Ibadan, has successfully undergone a re-accreditation assessment by a team from the West African College of Physicians (WACP), signaling yet another milestone in the ongoing efforts of the Oyo State Government to strengthen healthcare delivery and medical training in the state.

The accreditation visit, which took place from Monday 7th April and ended on the 9th April,2025 was focused on the Family Medicine Residency Training Programme at Jericho Specialist Hospital, a secondary healthcare facility solely dedicated to the training of Family Physicians.

The evaluation team was led by Professor Paul Dienye of Rivers State University Teaching Hospital, with Professor Matthew Agboola from Federal Teaching Hospital, Ido Ekiti, and Dr. Nnena Okafor from the National Hospital, Abuja, as members. The team conducted a thorough inspection of the hospital’s infrastructure, clinical services, and affiliated training sites.

The Honourable Commissioner for Health, Dr. Oluwaserimi Ajetunmobi, who welcomed the team, reiterated the State Government’s unwavering commitment to promoting excellence in healthcare training and service delivery. Dr. Ajetunmobi highlighted the strategic investments made by the Governor Seyi Makinde-led administration in upgrading healthcare infrastructure, enhancing workforce development, and creating enabling environments for specialist training across the state.

During the debriefing session, the WACP team expressed satisfaction with the hospital’s performance, especially in areas such as the availability of a functional oxygen plant, adequate clinical equipment, and a strong patient load necessary for training. They commended Oyo State for setting a precedent by dedicating a secondary facility exclusively to family medicine training.

The team, however, recommended that the hospital be granted semi-autonomous status to drive more operational flexibility and sustainability. This will also encourage the engagement of retired consultants as visiting trainers.

In his remarks, the Executive Chairman, Hospitals Management Board, Dr. Akin Fagbemi, expressed appreciation to the WACP team for their thorough assessment and constructive feedback. He assured them that the State would address the identified gaps, particularly in posting additional personnel to the facility and other necessary support to ensure smooth operations and continuous improvement.

While the official re-accreditation outcome is being awaited, the feedback received strongly indicates a successful re-accreditation for another five years—a significant validation of the investments and reforms being championed in Oyo State’s health sector.

Other members present at the debriefing were the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Health, Dr. Akintunde Ayinde, the Permanent Secretary Hospitals Management Board, Dr. Anifat Ibraheem, Head of Hospital, Dr. Helen Ilori, Residency Training Coordinator, Dr. Waliat Adekunle, other Directors from Hospitals Management Board, Consultants and Residents from the Jericho Specialist Hospital

Approximately 10 students from The Polytechnic Ibadan are currently receiving medical treatment in government hospitals after inhaling a toxic gas and collapsing on Tuesday.

The Oyo State government acted swiftly upon receiving a distress call, deploying an emergency response team to the tertiary institution. The Honourable Commissioner for Health, Dr. Oluwaserimi Ajetunmobi, led the immediate intervention.

The affected students were quickly evacuated and taken to Ring Road State Hospital and the University College Hospital (UCH) for urgent care.

According to eyewitnesses, the students, who are from the Science Laboratory and Technology Department, were in their lecture hall following a course test when a fight broke out between two individuals. As others attempted to intervene, an unidentified choking substance was allegedly released into the air by one of the students, causing several to collapse and some to lose consciousness. Ten students were impacted by the incident.

Dr. Ajetunmobi personally visited the hospitals to assess the condition of the students, confirming that they had been stabilised and were receiving appropriate medical attention.

She called on the management of The Polytechnic Ibadan to conduct a thorough investigation into the incident and ensure that those responsible are identified and held accountable.

The Commissioner also stressed the importance of organising sensitisation programmes for students to discourage acts of violence and harmful behaviour that could endanger public safety.

She reiterated the Ministry of Health’s commitment to safeguarding the well-being of all Oyo State residents and assured that the ministry would continue to respond promptly to health-related emergencies.

The Rector of The Polytechnic Ibadan, Dr. Taiwo, expressed gratitude for the state government’s swift response and pledged to identify and address the individuals responsible for the incident

Accompanying the Commissioner were the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, Dr. Akintunde Ayinde; the Director of Secondary Health Care and Training, Dr. Adekunle Aremu; the Director of Nursing Services, Dr. (Mrs.) Kehinde Oyebode; the Director of Food, Water, and Laboratory Services, Mrs. Afusat Akande; and members of the Rapid Response Team.