The Kwara State government on Thursday, flagged off the 2025 edition of its free medical surgical outreach at the Aisha Buhari Mother and Child Hospital, Eyekorin, in Asa local government area of the state.
The Commissioner for Health, Dr Amina El-Imam performed the ceremony on behalf of the state Governor, AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq.
She said the free medical outreach was part of the ongoing efforts to improve access to quality healthcare and achieve universal health coverage for the people of the state.
El-Imam expressed joy and pride in the annual outreach programme, which she described as “life – changing, impact-making, and a significant milestone in the journey towards better health outcomes for all Kwarans.”
“This is a wonderful, sustained effort initiated and consistently supported by His Excellency, Mallam AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq. It is driven by the Ministry of Health through the Directorate of Medical Services and Training, under the leadership of Dr. Musiliu Odunaiya,” she explained.
El-Imam emphasised the uniqueness and scale of the outreach, noting that few states in Nigeria offer such a widespread, grassroots-level free healthcare initiative.
“In fact, Kwara State’s medical surgical outreach was commended during the 2024 National Council on Health meeting. Many found it hard to believe that a State could offer such comprehensive free services to its people. If you were to seek the same treatment at a private hospital, it would cost nothing less than ₦500,000,” she added.
She said that the free medical surgical outreach was expected to provide a wide range of free medical and surgical services to hundreds of beneficiaries across the state, reaffirming the administration’s commitment to inclusive healthcare.
She advised citizens, especially pregnant women, to utilise health facilities regularly and attend antenatal clinics at least four times before delivery.
El-Imam also cautioned pregnant women against patronising traditional birth attendants, stressing the importance of skilled and professional care.
In his remarks, the chairman of the State House of Assembly’s Committee on Health and Nutrition, Hon Seun Ogunniyi, described the outreach as a government initiative that reflects the administration’s commitment to addressing the healthcare needs of vulnerable populations.
