Emmanuel Kehinde, Ilorin
Kwara State Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq has held a no-holds-barred interactive session with indigenes of the state in the diaspora, explaining the various steps his administration has taken to improve quality of living back home.
He also said the administration is putting up a standard cancer (oncology) centre in Ilorin, the first in the north central except Abuja, to cater for the needs of the people as they increasingly die of the disease owing to late diagnosis or lack of easy access to care.
AbdulRazaq said most cancer patients from Kwara and neighbouring states often go to University College Hospital Ibadan or Lagos, both of which are already stretched to the limit.
In a session that lasted more than two hours on Monday evening, the Governor said he began with paying attention to basic healthcare services, primary education, provision of potable water, restoring constant and timely payment of workers’ salary, reconnecting the hinterlands with urban centres, and working to redirect the state along developmental politics anchored on basic needs of the people.
The well-attended zoom session was organised by the Office of the Focal Person to the Governor on Diaspora Matters Dr Lola Sawyer.
“We are glad that statistics available today clearly show great improvements across sectors and that we have changed the trajectory of how things used to be, even though we are definitely not there yet,” he said.
“In our General Hospitals, as in primary healthcare facilities, the attendance has gone up. We have also started fixing and upgrading (in terms of facilities) the General hospitals in Oro, Ilorin, Lafiagi and Kaiama.
“So, people who normally go to private clinics are now making use of government hospitals. And in the north central per capital we have the highest ratio of doctors to patients, even though it is a challenge to keep those doctors. They keep going to Lagos and Abuja or out of the country. But we are doing our best to make sure we keep them, and we tried to improve their welfare as our revenue allowed. We recently adjusted the salary scale so that we can keep our doctors and other health professionals.”
Speaking on the oncology centre being funded by the BUA group, AbdulRazaq added: “Why did we push for cancer centre? I don’t think there is any nearest one in the north central. The ones nearest are in Ibadan and Lagos. And the last patient I know went to Ibadan for treatment. They put her on the waiting list for six months. By the time it was six months the situation had become so bad. So we need to have our own to treat our people and our catchment areas. Cancer centre is a top priority for us, especially because early detection and treatment could make a big difference.”
He also said the government will soon commence a new procurement process for the construction of Ilesha Baruba and Osi campuses of the state-owned university, adding that the projects would open up the two areas for massive development.
The Governor added that his administration never assumes it knows everything and is always open to positive ideas on how to develop the state, calling on diaspora Kwarans to join hands with him and other patriots back home.
The engagement elicited positive responses from Kwarans abroad who testified to the paradigm shifts back home, especially in how relatives in the civil service no longer complain of not getting paid and the improvement in the basic health sector, among others.
