By Abu Mike
The recent inauguration of the Odu General Hospital by Capt Idris Wada, calls for a wholistic review of efforts the administration has made in rebuilding critical health infrastructures in the state.
Until the inauguration, not many people knew that the hospital which is to serve the need of residents of Odu and its environs, have such gigantic edifice.
The hospital which is to cater for communities around Odu and Ayigba, is more of a tertiary health institution.
The hospital would relieve residents of having to travel long distances is a bold initiative of the Wada led administration.
The governor charged the people to protect the facility, said the needed manpower has been employed to make the centre functional.
On assumption of office, Capt Idris Wada, as Governor of Kogi State, it would be recalled that the governor promised to make Health care delivery, through the improvement of infrastructure his cardinal priority.
For observers of efforts of government in the last close to four years, one sector that has made remarkable improvement is the health sector.
The present administration in the state under Capt Wada has so far built over 436 different projects across the Wards of the State, but with projects in the health sectors given the desired priority.
On going construction of the 250-bed Kogi State University Teaching Hospital in Ayingba to boost provision of healthcare services and also boost inward medical tourism is a facility being developed in conjunction with an Indian Consultant.
There is also the Construction and equipment of Diagnostic and Imaging Centre at the State Specialist Hospital, Lokoja.
The administration has since its Quarterly rural free medical programme ensured that over 520,000 persons have benefited since its inception till date.
The efforts of the administration in the health sector made the State Winner of the Bill Gates Foundation award for best performing State in North Central on Immuization.
Other remarkable achievements of the Wada led administration in the health sector includes the renovation and upgrading of all Zonal Hospitals around the State.
On record too is the construction of 65-bed Odu Orthopaedic Hospital – Phase I already completed.
There is also the construction of 30-bed Model Community Hospitals in all three Senatorial Districts of the State in Ofugo, Ihima and Koton-Karfe.
Also worthy of mention is the upgrading of Central Medical Stores by the Wada led administration. Establishment of revolving fund for drugs.
Upgrading of National Blood Transfusion Centre in Lokoja.
The administration has equally facilitated the procurement of dialysis machine for use in the State.
The administration has Upgraded and ensured the accreditation of College of Nursing Obangede and Kogi State College of Health Sciences and Technology Idah.
The present government also upgraded all hospitals in 21 Local Government Areas of the State and also
Provided ambulances to various hospitals across the State.
The massive employment of a large pool of Medical and Health Personnel made up of Doctors, Nurses and other Paramedics, into the health sector of the State is part of Captain Wada’s avowed commitment to the well being and good health care of the people.
The policy of also distributing long lasting insecticidal mosquito nets across the State, an intervention aimed at tackling malaria, an increasingly endemic disease in tropical Africa cannot be over stressed. This administration’s prompt payment of all its counterpart funds for HIV/AIDS related activities and in other enhanced health care delivery counterpart services signed by the State also remain laudable.
The Capt Wada administration has certainly amidst tight financial resources faced by government at all levels gave priority and attention to rural Health based projects in the state all in its bid to bring healthcare service delivery closer to the people mostly the rural dwellers.
– Abu Micheal is the Chief Press Secretary to Kogi State Deputy Governor.
