The Kwara State Government says it is fully committed to revamping the moribund healthcare system in the state.

Governor Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq made this known while declaring open, a-two day Kwara State Health Symposium with the theme: "Partnership for Health Innovation: Towards Creating a Sustainable Healthcare System in Kwara State" in Ilorin.

Governor Abdulrazaq who was represented by his Deputy, Mr Kayode Alabi decried neglect of the health sector by the previous administration which he said failed to equip kwara state hospitals with qualified manpower, drugs and other facilities that are necessary for quality healthcare delivery.

He explained that what makes a good hospital is not the structure but the presence of qualified and adequate health workers, basic facilities and drugs noting that kwara hospitals are short-staffed with obsolete facilities which he said has been discouraging medical doctors and other medical personnel from practising in the state.

"Yes, we have some structures scattered across the state. But what makes a good hospital is not the structure. It is the presence of qualified and adequate health workers, basic facilities and drugs. Our hospitals are short-staffed. The facilities are mostly obsolete. I have also learnt how medical doctors and other medical personnel don’t want to stay with the state government. I must at this point commend the few ones who have stayed back to serve our people" he emphasisd.

He adds further "They are our heroes. I thank all of them on behalf of our people. I recently visited the Sobi Specialist Hospital where I was shown a moribund oxygen plant, among other problems facing the hospital. The Ilorin General Hospital, the flagship hospital in the state, is one giant structure without basic amenities befitting of its status as our premier hospital".

The Governor added that the recent release of about Three Hundred Millions of naira in counterpart and partnership fund to address maternal and child health and medical outreach for the poor and the vulnerable in the state is in line with fulfillment of his campaign promises to give Kwarans quality healthcare services.

"I have also recently approved the sums of N26.9m for a medical outreach in partnership with the Kwara State Association of Nigeria North America Inc. and Sakinah Medical which I’m sure are ably represented at this event. That upcoming outreach involves nine surgical procedures with beneficiaries drawn from the state. The procedures shall include spinabifidia and hydrocephollus shunting, among others. We have also taken immediate steps to tackle the menace of vaccine-derived polio, which broke out in January this year, by mobilising resources for the agencies in charge for the benefit of our children" he noted.

He states "With about 24 international healthcare companies and dozens of experts attending the symposium, this event has been designed to be problem-based and solution-oriented with emphasis on healthcare financing through state-wide health insurance, implementation of minimum standard of Primary Health Centres, optimisation of secondary healthcare and development of specialist services in Kwara state.

We are confident that the outcome of this deliberation will help us come up with the easy-to-implement roadmap to bequeath to our people a healthcare system that takes care of their needs and is able to attract and retain capable hands from across the country".

The Governor added that the government envision an innovative healthcare system that deploys modern technology to not only tackle the medical needs of our people but also put Kwara State on the national map as a model state in the areas of innovative medical solutions.

In his goodwill message, Chairman Senate Committee on Health,
Senator Yahya Oloriegbe lamented the deplorable conditions of health care systems and facilities in the state and commended governor Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq for keeping to his promise of delivering good healthcare to Kwarans.

Senator Oloriegbe said as policymakers everything would be done to turn around health system in the state and assist the government to actualize its plan on the health sector.

While promising to use his new office to attract health programs and projects to the state, the Senator expressed hope that the symposium would produce recommendation to move the health care system in the state forward.

He said the symposium was an eye-opener for the state government and commended Governor Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq for what he described as a right step in a right direction towards making health system work in the state.

Senator Oloriegbe identified quality healthcare system as a necessary ingredient for socioeconomic development and pledged to do everything humanly possible to assist the government in boosting the health sector to improve the living standard of Kwarans.

The Vice Chairman, Senate Committee on Primary Health, Senator Pharmacist Sadiq Umar said even in the developed world, quality health care system is very expensive noting that providing good health system in Kwara state required huge financial commitment and called for collective effort to assist government in achieving its dream on health sector.

Senator Umar also said primary health care is very critical in achieving a good health system hence the need to pay adequate attention to it especially as far as infrastructure, human resources and drugs are concerned.

He stressed the need to mobilize and educate the citizens to understand and appreciate government's policies and programs on health sector.

The convener of the program, Professor Wale Suleiman emphasised the need for a collective effort to evolve a health system that would work for all and expressed hope that the outcome of the symposium would bring out a workable recommendation to help the government improve the health sector.