The Kebbi government in partnership with the Nizamiye Hospital, Abuja, on Satuday, commenced a three-day free medical treatment for 2,000 residents of the state.

The exercise facilitated by the Wife of the State Governor, Hajiya Nasare Nasir Idris, under a non-governmental organisation, Nasare Nasir Idris Foundation, was designed to treat indigent patients presented with various ailments.

Gov. Nasir Idris stated this during the inauguration of the exercise at the Kebbi Medical Centre, Kalgo.

Represented by Alhaji Safiyanu Garba-Bena, the state Head of Service (HoS), Idris appreciated the 22 team of doctors, nurses and other medical experts for their contributions to the exercise.

He reiterated government’s commitment towards enhancing access to quality healthcare delivery through the provision of state-of-the-art medical equipment, recruitment of medical personnel and upgrade of health facilities in the state.

“As a matter of deliberate policy, government is focussing on maternal and child healthcare as well as care for the elderly and vulnerable persons in the population. Government is determined to reverse the ugly indices prevalent in the state on maternal child mortality and morbidity, child killer diseases and other negative issues of malnutrition,” he said.

According to him, the state government is finalising a blueprint on integrated healthcare to provide a roadmap on healthcare delivery.

“I am sure that outreach like this will reduce medical tourism and give indigent patients the opportunity to access medical care which they ordinarlly cannot afford.This collaboration, I made to understand targets women, children, the elderly and those suffering from life threatening diseases”, he added.

Earlier, the Commissioner for Health, Alhaji Yunusa Isma’il, lauded the gesture, adding that the exercise would bring succour to vulnerable patients in the state.

The Medical Team Lead, Prof. Ibrahim Yanmis, promised to use their expertise to provide quality services to the patients in the exercise.