The Kwara State Governor, Abdulrahman AbdulRazaq, has reiterated his administration’s commitment to improving primary health care delivery for the average people in the state.
This, he said, would be achieved through the new intervention programme, the Immunization Plus and Malaria Process by Accelerating and Transparency.
IMPACT is funded by the World Bank after the state paid $100,000 in counterpart funds. Each benefiting PHC is getting N4.6m to upgrade primary healthcare infrastructure.
Speaking at the official flag-off of the program in Ilorin, the governor said the programme would help to deepen access to primary healthcare services.
He said that his administration’s commitment to the program underscores its focus to ensure universal health coverage for an average Kwara resident.
“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.
On his part, the Executive Secretary, Kwara State Primary Healthcare Development Agency, Dr. Nusirat Elelu, said the administration had repositioned the health sector through prompt payments of counterpart funds.
Others, she said, are adequate investments in basic infrastructure, prompt payment of salaries of health workers, and their promotion, among other incentives that enable the state to stand shoulder-high on health issues in the comity of states.
She said the agency would do everything within its power to ensure that the resources entrusted into its care are utilized for the common man and in line with the necessary guidelines.
Meanwhile, development partners also commended the governor’s strides in the health sector, saying they point to his firm commitment to public good.
Representative of the World Health Organization, Dr Walter Mulombo, commended the administration for its strategic partnerships and investment in primary healthcare programmes to deliver quality healthcare services to the citizens.
Mulombo, who spoke through the North Central Coordinator for WHO, Dr. Asma’l Kabir, said Kwara was able to have the programme in place because of the governor’s foresight and commitment.
“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 lauded AbdulRazaq for providing the enabling grounds for the WHO to deliver on its 2023 goals, which she said, were meant to cover at least 3 billion people worldwide.
“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.”