Governor Yahaya Bello of Kogi State

Richard Elesho/ Lokoja

Kogi State Governor, Alh. Yahaya Bello has reiterated his commitment to the provision of quality and affordable healthcare for people of the State, saying his desire is to promote wellness for economic growth and prosperity.

Speaking through his Director General on Media and Strategy, Kingsley Fanwo, the Governor said healthcare is a critical component of the New Direction Agenda of his administration. Bello described the health institutions he inherited as “grossly unfit” and revealed that his administration is poised to put in place, “world class health facilities to ensure people of the State have access to quality healthcare.”

“The health institutions inherited by the Governor were in bad state. Our hospitals are decrepit. The Governor has directed the Ministry of Health to take stock of what is needed to turn our health institutions to worldclass health institutions. Also, the Governor has moved to upgrade facilities in our health institutions across the State, as well as revamp our health training institutions such as the College of Health Technology, Idah and the Kogi State School of Nursing and Midwifery, Obangede.”

Governor Bello said, though his administration will ensure regular payment of salaries to workers, emphasis will also be placed on infrastructural development to serve the greater percentage of Kogites who are not civil servants.

He urged health workers in the State to compliment the efforts of the administration at bringing quality healthcare to the people of the State, assuring them of government’s readiness to empower them to perform optimally through regular salary payment, capacity building and creation of the right environment.

The Governor said the recently approved Fair Health Scheme was aimed at dragging down the cost of healthcare in the State and make it affordable to all, irrespective of economic status, saying that his government will continue to protect the interest of the poor in the State. He said his administration will ensure full implementation of the New Direction Blueprint which he described as “the path to the greatness of the State”.