Governor Ahmed Usman Ododo of Kogi State says his administration is working on a comprehensive healthcare scheme that will birth free medical services to people in all parts of the state.
Ododo disclosed this in Lokoja on Monday while addressing members of the Nigeria Medical Association ( NMA) and other healthcare professionals who were at the government house in Lokoja on his invitation.
The governor had invited the healthcare professionals following the conclusion of a 3-day medical outreach organised by them in collaboration with the NMA.
The governor used the opportunity of the occasion to express appreciation to the medical professionals on behalf of the state government for the success of the free medical outreach in the state.
Ododo said the proposed healthcare scheme will serve as flagship health train that will comprise all categories of healthcare professionals.
He said that the scheme will entail professionals visiting different parts of the state to deliver interventions aimed at complementing secondary and primary healthcare service delivery in the state.
He reiterated his commitment to sustain investment in the health sector, stressing that the free medical outreach is in line with his campaign promise to make healthcare more affordable and accessible to the people of the state.
He restated his commitment to ensure that health sector remains the top priority of the administration.
Ododo said : “a healthy society is a wealthy society. I will continue to support you in this exercise and to ensure that the free medical outreach is extended to our people in all parts of the state.
” I want you to count on my support as we work together to make the free medical outreach a flagship programme in our calendar of medical activities in the state so that we can make healthcare more accessible and affordable to our people.”
He called on medical practitioners in the state to sustain their support for the administration and expand the scope of their collaboration with the government through the state ministry of health.
In his remark, the state commissioner for health, Dr. Abdulazeez Adams commended the medical team for the successful conduct of the free medical outreach which he noted was a clear testament to the dedication of medical professionals working in Kogi State.
He equally commended Governor Ododo for the attention given to the welfare of healthcare professionals in the state and for providing the enabling environment for medical professionals to excel in the delivery of healthcare services to the people of the state.
Also speaking at the meeting, Dr David Aimila, the Chairman of the Committee of Past Chairmen of NMA in Kogi State described the free medical outreach as a high powered intervention that delivered unprecedented outcomes in various fields of medicine and healthcare to people under a conducive working environment provided by the Kogi state government.
He praised Governor Ododo for the priority accorded the health sector and professionals by the administration.
On his part, Professor Solomon Avidime, Chief Medical Director, Reference Hospital Okene and host of the medical team applauded Governor Ododo for the health-friendly posture of the administration.
Avidime expressed the readiness of Reference Hospital Okene to host many of such medical missions in the nesr future.
He also emphasized the importance of the free medical outreach to the government and the people of the state, saying it complements the free health insurance policy of the state government by bridging the gap in healthcare coverage across the state. (vitalnewsngr.com)
