Date: 2014-06-07

A medical doctor, Dr AbdulFatah Olokooba, on Friday called for the extension of the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) to all Nigerians to facilitate universal health coverage.

Olokooba, who is the Chief Medical Director of the Kwara General Hospital, llorin, made the call at a news conference in Ilorin on Friday.

He said the time had come to extend the scheme to all the states of the federation to provide accessible and affordable healthcare to the grass-roots.

The director said the authorities of the remodelled general hospital which is due for inauguration on Tuesday would ensure provision of first-class services to the people.

According to him, the hospital has modern infrastructure, advanced diagnostic equipment and experienced professional service providers.

The CMD commended the Kwara Government for investing in the health sector, and implored the people to avail themselves of the opportunity to improve their health status.

According to Olokooba, the hospital is collaborating with the University of Ilorin Teaching Hospital and Harmony Advanced Diagnostic Centre.

He gave the assurance that proper maintenance mechanisms had been put in place for the facilities, adding that incessant industrial actions was affecting efforts to provide quality health care to the people.

(NAN)