About 1500 patients have benefited from free medical outreach by a group under the aegis, of Kwantamania Political Movement for the re-election bid of Governor Abdullahi Sule of Nasarawa State.
Speaking at the flag-off of the exercise in Akwanga Local Government Area of the state, Group leader, Mr. Yakubu Kwanta said the outreach aimed at complementing the effort being made by the Governor to improve the health conditions of the people.
He explained that “the programme helps in strengthening the health system, increasing access, and improving the quality of integrated primary health care services.”
He said that over 100 medical personnel ranging from Doctors, Nurses, Pharmacists, and Lab Technicians were engaged in the three-day exercise.
Kwanta who is also the Commissioner for Environment and Natural Resources further explained that whatever medical challenges were discovered in the course of the consultation would be treated free of charge.
He said that “136 beneficiaries were selected from each of the 11 electoral wards of the LGA irrespective of political affiliations.
“The beneficiaries were carefully selected based on the health challenges they have, without any sentiment of the tribe, religion, or political party.
“We have profiled them and we will try to ensure that the state government includes them in the health insurance scheme of the state to continue to benefit from medical services.”
The Commissioner, therefore, urged the people to conduct themselves peacefully to avoid rancor and assured them that all of them would be attended to.
Given the update on the exercise so far, the lead Doctor, Grimah Vechu, said over 30 doctors, Nurses, 15 Pharmacists, and Lab Technicians were on the ground for the exercise.
Dr Vechu said that from Wednesday when the exercise started to Thursday, over 50 minor surgeries were carried out and 500 medical consultations were conducted.
He said by the grace of God all the 1,500 persons would be attended to by Friday.
In his Goodwill message, Governor Sule commended the group for the initiative, aimed at taking care of people who cannot afford their bills despite health challenges.
According to him, healthcare services is one of the topmost priority of his administration, which is why the state had since started the State Health Insurance Scheme to ensure affordable health services to the people.
Gov. Sule said “over 61,000 persons were so far enrolled and are benefiting from the state health insurance programme.”
He further said that the government would do everything possible to ensure that all the people were captured as beneficiaries in the state’s health insurance programme.
“I have approved over N300,000m to the State Health Insurance Agency as our contribution and to enroll more people.
“The government will continue to release its contribution to ensure the smooth running of the health insurance programme in the state,” the Governor added.
A beneficiary who spoke on behalf of others, Mr. Yakubu Ibrahim, expressed gratitude to the group and state government for the gesture.
He appealed to other spirited individuals and groups to emulate the group.
Mercy Chukwudiebere
