The Governor of Kwara State, Abdulrahman AbdulRazaq, has reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to enhancing the supply of primary healthcare for the state’s typical residents.
He said that the new intervention program, the Immunization Plus and Malaria Process by Accelerating and Transparency, will help achieve this.
The World Bank has agreed to sponsor IMPACT after the state provided $100,000 in counterpart funding. Each benefited PHC will receive N4.6 million to enhance their facilities for primary healthcare.
At the program’s official launch in Ilorin, the governor claimed the initiative will contribute to expanding access to primary healthcare services.
He claimed that the administration’s dedication to the initiative highlights its priority of ensuring that the typical Kwara resident has access to universal health coverage.
“I welcome you all to this important occasion which signals another milestone in the life of our administration. One of the cardinal goals of our administration is to ensure universal health coverage for all Kwarans, irrespective of their location. This has guided all the strategic interventions we have made in the health sector, “he said.
In a statement by Rafiu Ajakaye, the governor said, “One of the early commitments our administration made is the Expression of Interest in the IMPACT Project by meeting all the necessary requirements, including the payment of $100,000 counterpart fund.
“The idea is to enable our Primary Health Care Centres to have some level of financial autonomy and the capacity to optimally deliver basic health care services to the people.
“This (programme) is a continuation of the legacies of our administration. We have consistently been investing in the health sector, including the primary healthcare system through the renovation or construction of health facilities in several locations in the state, and the recruitment of all cadres of health workers. We have equipped many of our health facilities with equipment this state never had before. We will not relent, especially now that the results have been quite impressive,” he said.
The administration has repositioned the healthcare industry, according to Dr. Nusirat Elelu, executive secretary of the Kwara State Primary Healthcare Development Agency.
Others, according to her, include sufficient investments in essential infrastructure, fast payment of health professionals’ salaries and their promotion, among other incentives that allow the state to stand head and shoulders above other states in the comity of states on health concerns.
The agency, according to her, will do everything in its power to make sure the resources entrusted to its care are used for the general public and in accordance with the appropriate regulations.
Development partners have praised the governor’s achievements in the health sector as well, stating that they demonstrate his unwavering dedication to the common good.
Dr. Walter Mulombo, a representative of the World Health Organization, praised the administration for its commitment in primary healthcare programs and strategic collaborations to provide citizens with high-quality healthcare services.
Mulombo said Kwara was fortunate to have the program in place due of the governor’s foresight and commitment, who spoke through the North Central Coordinator for WHO, Dr. Asma’l Kabir.
“I want to, on behalf of the representative of WHO, commend and congratulate the Kwara State Government for establishing the IMPACT project to improve access to universal health coverage,” she said.
She praised AbdulRazaq for creating the conditions necessary for the WHO to fulfill its 2023 goals, which she claimed were intended to benefit at least 3 billion people globally.
“WHO’s 2023 goal is a global goal that has the 3 billion live goals. The first is that WHO intends to reach 1 billion people to have access to universal health coverage. Of course, this is part of the way for which the WHO appreciated Kwara State,” she said.
“Another 1 billion people are going to become healthier. And 1 billion more people will get protected from health emergencies. This is in direct alignment with what the Kwara State Government has been doing.”
