The Kogi State Government says it intends to spend over One Billion Naira in the upgrade of Health Institutions across the State under its Subsidy Re-investment Programme.
The State Governor, Capt. Idris Wada, stated this at the opening of ‘Team 10’ free cleft and facial deformity surgery programme and three years of existence of the Cleft Care Foundation.
The Governor who was represented by his Deputy, Yomi Awoniyi, said the repositioning of General and Cottage hospitals across the State, through massive rehabilitation, was the present administration’s resolve towards improving the health needs of the people.
Capt. Wada reiterated his administration’s commitment to sustain the State Free Rural Health Programme and its resolve to continue to make the State polio free.
The Governor appealed to patients with cleft and craino facial challenges not to be ashamed but should take the advantage of the medical services to get treated. The Governor described their medical challenge as no fault of theirs, and commended the Cleft Care Foundation for the services they are offering to people in the State.
Earlier in his remarks, the Chief Medical Director of the State Specialists Hospital Lokoja, Dr Paul Ahmadu, said the Free Surgery offered by Cleft Care Foundation was designed to bring sucour to Nigerians who for no fault of theirs are suffering from facial deformities.
In his speech, Dr. Seidu Bello, the Director of Cleft Care Foundation, said several Nigerians due to ignorance, poverty, inaccessible healthcare and sometimes cultural believes suffer untold hardship caused by facial deformities.
Dr. Bello called on indigenes of the State with facial deformities to take advantage of the free surgical care offered by the foundation to get treated.
The Director Cleft Care Foundation commended the Kogi State Government for the technical support that has enabled it successfully carryout surgeries for patients with facial tumours, locked jaws, facial cleft and others.
