"Health is wealth", goes the saying. This assertion underscores the importance of quality health service, thus the need for any responsive and responsible government to view it as a basic necessity and make it not only accessible, but affordable for all and sundry.

The World Health Organisation (WHO) states that health services include all services dealing with the diagnosis and treatment of disease, or the promotion, maintenance and restoration of health.

Experts therefore regard health service as an important determinant in promoting the general physical and mental health and well-being of people. Analysts maintain that provision of modern health facilities is a prequisite for quality healthcare delivery, but however, observe that modern health facilities can only be meaningful to the people if they can afford the services available.

Observers say this, perhaps, is what Gov. Abdulfatah Ahmed of Kwara had in mind when in his inaugural speech of May 29, 2011, pledged to ensure that no Kwaran move beyond 500 metres to access affordable health services.

The governor said upon his swearing-in ceremony as the sixth executive chief of the state that "this administration has prioritised efficient health delivery through a programmed drive to ensure that no resident travels beyond 500 meters to access quality healthcare.

"Our resolve in this regard is based on the recognition that optimum health not only promotes the people's well being but is also critical to growth as it nurtures our valuable human resource.

"We believe that the well being of her citizenry is fundamental to the socio-economic development of the state.

"Indeed, good health is a necessary precondition for progress as poor health invariably impedes socio-economic productivity and human capital development.

"Therefore, improving access to quality health services at all levels is of utmost priority in our cardinal programme."

Meanwhile, the first point of call in the state health sector as observed was the completion of the Kwara Advanced Medical Diagnostic Centre, which was inaugurated on Dec 14, 2012 by the Vice President, Namadi Sambo.

Records show that the diagnostic centre boasts of diagnostic machines such as 3D Magnetic Resonance Image Module, ultrasound Scan, ECG, Mammography, X-ray machine, Fluoroscopy, 16-slides and 64-slide CT scan machine all complete with a dedicated UPS.

It is also shown that the state-of-art laboratories in the centre are made up of Haematology Laboratory that houses the haematology analyser and automated coagulation analyser; Immunology Laboratory that houses cob as 4000 analyser series used for serum chemistry and immuneassay and Microbiology Laboratory, which houses automated blood culture system, modified funchs, Rosenthal counting chamber, Class 1 biological system and PCR among other sophisticated equipment.

Sambo in his speech described the project as a world-class medical centre for comprehensive diagnosis of health matters. He commended the vision, perseverance and performance of the Kwara State Government for making the State Capital of Ilorin the centre-piece of not only Nigeria but indeed people from other parts of the world in the area of healthcare service delivery.

He said "this newly commissioned Advanced Medical Diagnostic Centre, Ilorin is capable of saving Nigeria from capital flight on medical tourism and treatment abroad, making the city of Ilorin the tourist destination for the people of Africa in the Area of healthcare services.

"No doubt, with this project, the outflow of resources from the country will be a thing of the past with effective functioning of the Centre."

The Vice President therefore called on the government to recruit qualified Nigerian medical practitioners now working abroad. Sambo, who urged other state governments to emulate Kwara State government, advised that proper maintenance culture should be imbibed so that the facility will not be run down.

"Apart from making the best use of the project to generate revenue, the state government should also ensure the proper maintenance of the structural facilities at the centre in order to sustain its performance so as to promote the health of the people", the Vice President said.

Recounting the resolve of the state Government to construct the medical edifice, Gov Abdulfatah Ahmed described the inauguration as another milestone in the history of the state's health sector. "The centre is a product of our long and persistent quest for excellence in all aspects of medical diagnosis. This is based on our recognition that proper diagnosis is a necessary precondition for effective medical treatment. This Centre, therefore, is critical to our policy thrust on health with its twin focus on quality and access," he said.

The governor stated that the Centre would be run through a Public-Private-Partnership with a highly reputable firm.

"We believe the Public-Private Partnership arrangement would afford the facility an excellent management and maintenance with the aggressiveness in marketing within and outside of the country", said the governor.

In same vein, Gov Ahmed within his three years of administration also upgraded and remodelled five General Hospitals in Ilorin, Share, Offa, Omu-Aran and Kaiama.

Speaking at the inauguration of the new General Hospital in Share, his hometown, Gov Ahmed said that since inception, his administration has been driven by a strong desire to enhance the well-being of the people in tangible ways.

"In the health sector, we have demonstrated this commitment by rehabilitating and equipping this General Hospital, and those at Ilorin, Offa, Omu-Aran, and Kaiama, at the cost of N4 billion.

"Apart from the striking physical structures, this facility is also equipped with modern equipment that will ensure that our people access quality, affordable and comprehensive healthcare.

"Ladies and gentlemen, let me emphasize that no healthcare system can function effectively without quality and well-motivated human resources.

"To complement our health infrastructure development programmes, therefore, this administration has commenced the payment of Consolidated Health Salary Structure (CONHESS) for all cadre of health workers in the state.

"It is also worthy of note that we have recently recruited consultants, medical officers, nurses and other categories of health workers to complement the existing work force in the sector and ensure that our people get the best healthcare available."

The governor, who also launched the Kwara Community Health Insurance Scheme in Share, asserted that quality healthcare services must not only be accessible, but also affordable.

He stated further "however, we realize that the modern health facilities like this and other General Hospitals across the state can only be meaningful to the people if they can afford the services available.

"I therefore have the added honour of flagging-off the Kwara State Community Health Insurance Programme in this zone. This programme commenced in Shonga in Edu Local Government Council in 2007 and has since made significant progress.

"Indeed, it is an ideal example of the much-recommended public-private partnership, as it involves the State Government, the Dutch Health Insurance Fund, Hygeia Community HealthCare, and PharmAccess Foundation with public and private healthcare providers in the state.

"Additionally, the Kwara Community Health Insurance Program testifies to our strong resolve to alleviate the plight of the people and improve the socio-economic value of our human capital."

The Kwara governor explained that the Community Health Insurance Program involved the provision of subsidized health insurance and accessible healthcare to the rural people for as little as N500 per annum as well as the upgrading of healthcare facilities to ensure quality.

"Presently, about 80,000 people, majority of them women and children, have subscribed to the program in all three senatorial districts of the State.

"Furthermore, 15 clinics and hospitals, all of which have been upgraded to acceptable standards, are participating in the programme."

In terms of patronage, he said that the programme had recorded one million visits to the clinics and hospitals since its inception seven years ago.

"As a testimony to the program’s success, it has received commendations locally and internationally including from the UN Secretary General, Mr Ban Ki Moon, who described our Health Insurance program as groundbreaking and innovative.

Meanwhile, stakeholders have poured encomia on the Gov Ahmed-led government' stride in making affordable health care services to the people of the state.

Mr Femi Adeshina, the President, Nigerian Guild of Editors (NGE) during a visit of the Guild to the state said they were impressed at the level of work done by the Gov Ahmed, particularly in the health sector.

The President, who led the NGE on a meeting of its standing committee to Ilorin remarked that "we came to hold a standing committee of the NGE and decided to visit some projects of the government and what we saw was impressive adding that the medical facilities at the Kwara Advanced Diagnostic Centre was sufficient to discourage overseas medical treatment.

He said the massive renovation at the general hospital, Ilorin and across the entire state will no doubt improve health service delivery to the people of the state.

Also applauding the community health insurance programme of the state, the Executive Secretary, National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS), Dr Femi Thomas, said the programme was an unquantifiable assistance to the operations of the National Health Insurance Scheme.

Hear him: "If all the states are to emulate Kwara, the National Health Insurance Scheme would have nothing to do again in the whole federation. So we are proud of your (Kwara State’s) achievement in the health sector, most especially in providing access to qualitative and affordable healthcare services for all Nigerians through the health insurance".