Kwara State Governor, Abdulfatah Ahmed, has reiterated the commitment of his administration to extend the provision of affordable healthcare services to over 60 per cent of the state population through the community health insurance scheme.

Ahmed spoke Thursday in Abuja when he signed a memorandum of understanding, on behalf of the state government, with the Health Insurance Fund for expansion of Kwara Community Health Insurance Programme over the next five years.

The governor, who described the poor state of the nation’s healthcare system as a major challenge that must be addressed by all stakeholders, disclosed that the programme would run from 2013 to 2017 in all the council areas. He said the recruitment of more medical personnel and renovation of more hospitals and health centres would soon begin across the state to address critical needs in the health sector.

Ahmed explained that the essence of the agreement was to expand access to healthcare delivery, promising that no resident of the state would go beyond 500 metres from his or her residence before having access to medical services in order to improve healthy living of the populace.

"Many people, especially at the grassroots, have not been able to afford medical bills in the hospitals and what we are trying to do is to assist not less than 60 per cent of Kwarans in accessing affordable healthcare services," Ahmed said.

Revealing that the scheme, which started with about 200 patronages in 2007 in Shonga, Edu local council, would be increased to between 2, 000 and 3, 000 with the new community health insurance scheme, the governor said that Kwara State and the Dutch Government, in partnership with Hygeia Group, would pay the premiums to enable the people enjoy healthcare services at affordable rates.

Meanwhile, the governor has urged members of the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) to assist security agencies in apprehending criminals posing as passengers.

They include those with strange luggage, the ones who often discuss security-related issues inside the vehicles and those who usually disembark at non-residential areas. Already, security telephone numbers were said to have been circulated to the relevant drivers’ groups to facilitate arrest of suspected passengers.

He said yesterday in Ilorin that the Nigerian professional drivers have a crucial role to play in ensuring security of lives and property in the country.

Speaking during a tripartite programme of Advocacy/Awareness on HIV/AIDS, distribution of Road Accident Health Insurance Scheme (RAHIS) cheques to beneficiaries, and promotion of made-in-Nigeria buses to members of the NURTW, Ahmed said the vigilance of the drivers was essential to security issues in the country.