Kwara Gov Launches 17- Free Statewide Medical & Surgical Outreach

Kwara State Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq on Thursday flagged off the seventh free statewide medical and surgical outreach as part of the means to improve the wellbeing of Kwarans.

"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," AbdulRazaq said at the flag off held at Primary Health Centre Igbo-Oro in Offa, one of the facilities his administration recently rehabilitated.

"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."

Represented by the Deputy Governor Mr Kayode Alabi, Governor AbdulRazaq said the community outreach plan is to complement 

national and sub-national programmes and interventions aimed at attaining universal health coverage. 

"With at least 3200 indigents expected to benefit from various interventions, this community outreach plan is aimed at ensuring 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," he said.

AbdulRazaq said the administration is addressing infrastructural decay through rehabilitation of primary and secondary health facilities as the state is preparing the Ilorin General Hospital, which is the premier hospital for the 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," AbdulRazaq promised. 

"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." 

AbdulRazaq commended the health team and the coordinating role of the state Ministry of health towards ensuring that all the interventions reach the people wherever they live.

For his part, the Commissioner for Health Dr Raji Rasaq disclosed that no fewer than 2,000 people had general surgeries and well over 550 people benefitted from eye surgeries had enjoyed the free gesture of Mallam AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq led administration since 29th May, 2019.

"This particular exercise is specially designed to impact on the indigent members of our community who cannot afford the cost of surgical services for conditions like hernia, lipimas, hydrocele/scrotal swelling, breast lump, cataract and even eye glasses," Raji stated.

"We planned to cover about 3,200 members of the public across the 16 LGAs, in a way that each of the LGAs have 200 beneficiaries comprising 15 general surgeries, 15 cataract cases, reading glasses for 50 or more medical consultation for 120."

Rasaq added that the exercise which would be held on weekly basis at designated locations shall move from one LGA to the other till the whole state is covered. 

The Olofa of Offa Oba Mufutau Gbadamosi Esuwoye II commended the state government for the choice of Offa for the flag off of the surgical intervention. 

Oba Esuwoye called on sons and daughters of the community with related health issues to take advantage of the exercise and give maximum support to the medical team for the success of the free surgical intervention.

Modupe Joel

Chief Press Secretary to the Deputy Governor 

July 1, 2021