In its quest to ensure quality healthcare delivery services among its people, the Kwara State government has finally taken over the old site of the University of Ilorin Teaching Hospital, UITH, from its management who has relocated following the completion of its permanent site.

The hospital, which is one of the five general hospitals enlisted for rehabilitation to a modern general hospital in the state, is expected to serve the immediate need of the people of the community, while critical cases would be referred to the present UITH.

This was announced in Ilorin, yesterday, by the state governor, Alhaji Abdulfatah Ahmed while flagging off the rehabilitation of General Hospitals in Offa, Share, Omu-Aran, Kaiama and the old UITH which would now be converted to become General Hospital, Ilorin.

Ahmed however disclosed that work is going on simultaneously in other general hospitals enlisted for rehabilitation and assured the people of the state the concern of his administration in the area of ensuring easy access to medical services at a radius in the state.

Earlier in his address, the state Commissioner for Health, Alhaji Abdul Kayode Issa, noted that the state government was striving relentlessly to reduce the burden of malaria, stressing that during the year ended, over 1million insecticide mosquito nets were distributed to households across the state.

Alhaji Issa added that the state Ministry of Health conducted a train-the-trainers workshop in December 2011 in the use of Rapid Diagnostic Test kits, RDTs and the state is embarking on procurement of the Test kits presently.

"With this, malaria will be easily diagnosed in our health facilities across the state thus reducing indiscriminate presentation of anti malaria drugs, and reducing the burden of costs of drugs and protecting the available drugs against resistance," he said.