Date: 2012-05-07

As part of efforts towards strengthening healthcare delivery in Kwara State through 500 metre access to quality health care in line with Shared Prosperity, the State Governor, Alhaji Abdulfatah Ahmed has reaffirmed the commitment of his administration to rehabilitate all existing general hospitals in the state before the end of his tenure. He said that once the on-going rehabilitation of Ilorin, Offa, Share, Omu-Aran and Kaiama hospitals is completed, work on another five general hospitals will commence, adding an additional new general hospital is to be constructed annually for the next three years.

The governor gave the assurance while receiving a medical team of the Kwara State Association of Nigeria, North America (KSANG) in Ilorin over the weekend. Alhaji Ahmed who said that a law to guarantee proper funding model of a state wide comprehensive health insurance scheme in the State is under-way, explained that the law will ensure that the health insurance scheme, presently on pilot stage in parts of the state, would be on firm footing.

"Our administration's health policy is driven by the understanding that qualitative health care is critical to national development", the Governor said. Governor Ahmed solicited the partnership of Kwarans in diaspora in capacity building for health personnel through the provision of qualitative health education. The leader of the KSANG team, Dr Olawale Suleiman said his team treated over One thousand five hundred patients during its 4-day programme while over 600 health personnel benefited from its health education programme.

Dr Suleiman said his team had succeeded in creating awareness about the importance of regular medical check-ups in Ajasse, Ilorin and Shonga where it operated during its health advocacy programme. The KSANG team leader expressed the readiness of the group to sustain an enduring relationship with the state government for the improvement of quality of life of the people in the State.

By Femi Akorede