An Oxygen Plant constructed by the Administration of Dr. Bukola Saraki

One of the Ambulances purchased by the Administration to rescue accident victims on major roads in the state.

Governor Bukola Saraki fixing glasses for one of the beneficiaries of the free eye-care services.

Events have ways of unfolding themselves. For complete seven days between 29 th April and 6 th May, 2005, the health sector in Kwara State stood still to receive the services of thirteen Medical Experts from the United States of America who have come to give free health service to the people of the state.

The programme was another innovative in the wonderful sets of democracy dividends that the people of Kwara State are enjoying from the Bukola Saraki's administration. The Sobi Specialist Hospital which hosted the Doctors also played host to thousands of patients who have one ailment or the other. Most of the Surgical Operations carried out ranged from hernia to hydrocele, appendicitis, congenital malformation, cataract operations and a host of other.

For most patients it was a dream come true because right from the inception of present administration of Bukola Saraki, effective health care delivery service has been top most in his mind. The arrival of Dr. Bukola Saraki to the Kwara State Government House on May 29 th , 2003 changed the scope of things in the health sector of the state. Being a Medical Doctor himself, there was no aorta of doubt of the expected innovations and improvement that the Health Sector would witness.

It is also not in exaggeration to say the fact that Kwarans heaved a sigh of relieve. The relieve was borne out of the fact that some months before the electoral victory of Dr. Saraki, there was a high level of insecurity in the state. Everything was at a stand still, the economy of the State was deteriorating. Most of our hospitals then had no drugs while most of them were nothing more than consulting clinics. The morale of the workers in the health sector was also low.

It is also a fact that right from the on set, he fold members of the fourth estate of the realm that he is not out for cheap popularity or publicity but urged them to assist in propagating his belief and at the same time report back people's demand on an accurate basic to assist his administration in taking the dividends of democracy to the door steps of all Kwarans.

Vision 2020 Programme

First to receive attention in the health sector was the vision 2020 programme which was meant to eradicate all causes of avoidable and preventable blindness among the inhabitants of the state. The right of sight is an essential aspect of the fight against poverty because a blind individual is incapable of carrying out every productive venture.

The eventual introduction of the vision 2020 programme brought about the free eye care programme where over two hundred people were operated for cataract while over 700 eye glasses were given out to people free of charge. This gesture went a long way in giving sight to those who would have totally gone blind.

The burden of blindness as a public health problem particularly in developing countries cannot be overemphasized. It is a well-known fact that 80 percent of blindness is avoidable and preventable but ignorance and lack o awareness on the part of the citizens always lead to blindness.

Rehabilitation of Hospitals

One other glaring attributes of the present administration of Dr. Bukola Saraki is the rehabilitation work carried out in some hospitals in the state. This was followed up with the distribution of drugs worth N5 million to some hospital while equipment worth N200 million were purchased and distributed to all the health institution in the state.

Employment of Doctors and Nurses

Interestingly twelve years before the coming of the Bukola Saraki's administration, no employment of doctors and nurses were carried out. But within the first one year in office, the amiable Governor has been able to give fresh employment to fifty Nurses, twenty-six Doctors and eight Pharmacists.

Also interesting to note is the Health System Development Project which has received positive political will under the leadership of Dr, Bukola Saraki. The project has recorded tremendous achievements in then promotion of Health Care System in the state. Sequel to the successful extension of the health system fund I project, the state Government in collaboration with the World Bank has completed plan for the take off of the second phase of the project now known as the Health System Development Project II.

Primary Health Care

The administration of Dr. Bukola Saraki has also achieved much in the area o Primary Health Care and disease control in the state. Emphasis is now being placed on preventive medicine our curative medicine in line with the world wide acceptable adage which says prevention is better than cure.

Training of Health Workers

It is also on record that the coming of the present administration saw the emergence of an aggressive training programme for Medical personnel in the Ministry through series of training workshops for different categories of officers in the Ministry.

HIV/AIDS Control

In the area of HIV/AIDS control, the administration of Dr. Bukola Saraki has been able to create tremendous awareness among the populace with regular jungles on the radio television coupled with other media activities, intermittent seminars and enlightenment programme in all the local government areas of the state. All this has been capped up with the release of over N10 million Naira and a new office block for the project.

National Immunization against Polio

The national immunization against polio has also received tremendous boost from the State Government with the conduct of the polio eradication programme in all the local government areas of the state despite the hues and cries that went with in some other states of the federation. The same can be said of the immunization against cerebrospinal meningitis which is dangerous to not only children but also adults. Immunization officers were made to move from schools to schools to immunize children against cerebrospinal meningitis while motor parks and other public centers were also visited. Hence there was no any outbreak in the state.

Construction of an Oxygen Plant

One other giants step taken in the health sector by the administration of Dr. Bukola Saraki is the construction of an Oxygen Plant at Sobi Specialist Hospital to take care of the hospital needs of most of our Medicare Centres. The plant became necessary because the basic air of survival for mankind is oxygen. It is more important during critical stages like surgical operations in the administration of recovery procedure on patients under emergency. The plant will not only serve the three States of Kwara, Kogi and Niger. States co-owners but will also be available for sale to other hospitals in this geopolitical zone. In fact oxygen so produced can also be used or industrial purpose like wielding etc.

The increasing high rate of accidents on our roads has also necessitated the decision of the Dr. Bukola Saraki's administration to construct Ambulance Points along the four major highways that enter the state. The four points are equipped with functional new Ambulance and Medical facilities that would take care of accidents and emergencies on our major highways and homes.

Arrangement has also been concluded to rehabilitate 36 Hospitals in the state. These hospitals so status would be enhanced with the provision of the much-needed facilities for their functionality

Another outstanding factor that has contributed immensely to the success recorded by the Governor Bukola Saraki's administration in the Health Sector in Kwara State was the successful hosting of the first ever Health Summit in the state. The summit afforded participant the opportunity of looking into the Multi-various problems facing the health sector in the state and how to find lasting solution to them. The summit was attended by key figures in the health sector of the country while far-reaching conclusions were made.