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By Yemisi Hambali
Thousands of residents across Kwara State are set to benefit from free medical consultations, laboratory tests, medications and surgical procedures as the Kwara State Government begins its 2026 Free Medical and Surgical Outreach Programme.
The programme, kicked start at Sobi Specialist Hospital, Alagbado, Ilorin, also offers free eye surgeries and prescription eyeglasses, particularly to residents who may be unable to afford essential medical care.
Speaking at the event, Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, represented by the Deputy Governor, Mr Kayode Alabi, said the programme underscored his administration’s commitment to ensuring that no resident was denied access to essential healthcare because of financial constraints.
The Governor disclosed that more than 20,918 residents had benefited from the programme over the last four years, adding that the administration had sustained interventions in maternal and child health, cancer prevention and screening, specialist medical care and other areas critical to residents’ well-being.
According to him, the 2026 edition is designed to reach communities across the 16 Local Government Areas of the state.
He urged residents in need of medical attention, particularly those requiring surgical and eye care, to take advantage of the opportunity.
The Commissioner for Health, Dr Aminat El-Imam, described the programme as a flagship initiative of the AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq administration, providing free consultation, diagnosis, treatment and surgical services to Kwarans.
Dr El-Imam said beneficiaries had received treatment for cataracts and other eye conditions, hernias and complicated surgical cases, including Caesarean sections.
She noted that about 10,000 people benefited from last year’s programme, adding that a higher target had been set for the 2026 edition.
Dr El-Imam also disclosed that the number of insured Kwarans had increased from zero in 2019 to nearly 100,000, adding that the government planned to significantly expand coverage through the enrolment of civil servants.
Also speaking, the Chairman of the Kwara State House of Assembly Committee on Health, Mr Seun Ogunniyi, said the programme was initiated because of the importance the state government attaches to the health and well-being of citizens.
He stressed that the outreach would not be limited to Ilorin but would extend to communities across the 16 Local Government Areas of the state.
