The Kwara State Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq
By Lekan Agboola, Ilorin –
The Kwara State Government has commenced another round of the state-wide free medical and surgical outreach for no fewer than 3200 residents of the state.
Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq disclosed this yesterday in Offa while flagging off the year 2021 government-sponsored free state-wide medical and surgical outreach held at Igbo-Oro Comprehensive Health Center.
The state-wide medical and surgical outreach will cover Cataract, Hernia, Hydrocele, Goitre, Lumps, Free Glasses and Pterigium among others.
Represented at the event by his Deputy, Mr Kayode Alabi, the Governor said the intervention was aimed at ensuring that universal health coverage is attained as a quick win strategy to complement other national and sub-national programmes and interventions which the state has keyed into through payment of relevant counterpart funds.
According to him “I feel personally fulfilled not only in accomplishing some of the most crucial parts of our campaign promises to the good people of Kwara state but also in anticipation of sharing in the joy that comes with helping the poor and vulnerable in a social way.
“Our investment in the health sector is premised on its pivotal position in the overall wellbeing of any society. This is why we continue to invest heavily in the health sector and other social programmes that target the poor and ease the burden of significant members of the working class.
“We are already addressing infrastructural decay through rehabilitation of our primary and secondary health facilities while we are preparing the Ilorin General Hospital, which is the premier hospital for our state, to become the Medical College of the Kwara State University. It will be known nationwide as a centre of excellence for provision of services, training and research that are supported with cutting edge technology”.
Governor AbdulRazaq commended health team and the coordinating role of the state Ministry of health towards ensuring that all these interventions reach the people wherever they live.
“Another unique feature of today’s event is the showcase of a functional health system across all strata of the health care system in the state. This is why the health facilities renovated by our government have been chosen as the base for the outreach programme.
“I am aware that the outreach programme shall move from one LGA to the other on weekly basis till we cover the whole state. Once again, I appreciate the endurance of the medical and surgical team. You did us proud in the battle against COVID-19. I am sure you will not relent especially with this new opportunity to impact many lives”.
In his remark, the state Commissioner for Health, Dr Raji Razaq disclosed that no fewer than 2,000 people who had general surgeries and well over 550 people that benefitted from eye surgeries had enjoyed the free gesture of present administration.
The Olofa Offa, Oba Muftau Gbadamosi Esuwoye ll, appreciated Governor AbdulRazaq led administration for the free medical and surgical outreach which he said would go along way in addressing health needs of people at the grassroots.
Oba Gbadamosi advised the people of Offa Community to make good use of the opportunity.
The f Transition Implementation Committees (TICs), Chairman in Offa Local Government, Hon. Thomas Olajare Olatundun, appreciated the governor for the renovation and upgrading of Igbo-Oro Comprehensive Health Center and for choosing the facility as a flagged off value.
He said the exercise would help to reduce level of mortality and morbidity rate and thus, increase life expectancy.