The Kwara State Government, with support from development partners, has launched the 2025 Integrated Health Outreach (I-HOP), designed to increase uptake of routine immunisation and other primary healthcare (PHC) services across all 193 wards in the state.
The intervention will also strengthen PHC outputs in the third and fourth quarters of 2025 by delivering a package of high-impact services directly to the doorsteps of the most vulnerable populations, regardless of their location.
Speaking at the flag-off ceremony at the PHC facility in Tanke, Ilorin, the Executive Secretary of the Kwara State Primary Health Care Development Agency (KWSPHCDA), Professor Nusirat Elelu, said the initiative reflected the state government’s shared commitment to ensuring that no one is left behind in the quest for a healthier and stronger Kwara.
Pictures from the ongoing free medico-surgical outreach in Edu local government area, held at Lafiagi General Hospital on Tuesday. #kwarafreemedicaloutreach2025 #healthforall pic.twitter.com/rFgCYjVcQh
— Kwara State Ministry of Health (@KwaraMoH) September 10, 2025
Professor Elelu explained that the services will be comprehensive and integrated, targeting 166,309 children under one year, 831,554 children under five years, and 207,885 pregnant women, among others.
The outreach will provide all routine immunisation antigens for eligible children, Tetanus Toxoid (TT) vaccines for pregnant women and adolescent girls, and general health consultations, including screenings for blood pressure, blood sugar, body mass index and nutrition-related conditions.
She added that a referral system has been established for patients requiring higher-level medical care.
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The agency has also partnered with the State Ministry of Livestock to implement a nomadic outreach strategy, targeting remote and underserved settlements, stressing that “health threat anywhere is health threat everywhere.”
According to her, the Integrated Health Outreach Programme is not “a mere exercise but a mission with clear and measurable objectives,” with one key target being to achieve over 80% coverage for the third dose of the Pentavalent vaccine in the fourth quarter of the year.
Professor Elelu also said the initiative aims to build and sustain demand for antenatal care by “systematically earning the trust and confidence” of clients.
She urged mothers, fathers, guardians and caregivers to take advantage of the opportunity to protect their children while calling on religious and traditional leaders to support health workers in ensuring its success.
She commended Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq for his “unwavering support” in providing resources and an enabling environment for the initiative and expressed appreciation to the state government for making available the Basic Health Care Provision Fund (BHCPF) and Project HOPE (Human Capital Opportunities for Prosperity and Equity), alongside partners who provided technical and financial backing.
In his remarks, the Permanent Secretary of the Kwara State Ministry of Health, Dr Abdullahi Taoheed, praised the governor for his consistent commitment to citizens’ well-being, particularly through recruitment, facility upgrades and structural reforms in the health sector.
Delivering a goodwill message, the representative of the World Health Organisation (WHO), Dr Oluwabunmi Ajayi, said WHO was proud to serve as an implementing partner: “We’ll work collaboratively to ensure the success of the integrated health outreach. It’s a laudable initiative and we’re truly glad to be part of it.”
The State Team Lead of the African Field Epidemiology Network (AFENET), Dr Atinuke Ahmed, also pledged continued collaboration with the agency to strengthen healthcare delivery.
The State Director of the National Orientation Agency (NOA), Alhaji Dare AbdulGaniyu, urged residents to take full advantage of the free healthcare services while warning against self-medication or overdose.
He called for cooperation to ensure the success of the intervention.