The Association of Resident Doctors, University of Ilorin Teaching Hospital (ARD-UITH) in collaboration with the Kwara State Government has embarked on free medical tests for civil servants in the state.

The screening exercise which commenced with the state Ministry of Education, State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB) and Government House is expected to capture all civil and public servants in the state.

Speaking with newsmen on Thursday during the screening exercise held at Banquet Hall, Government House, Ilorin, the President of the ARD, Dr Dele Tajudeen, said the screening exercise was to make people aware of their health status and take necessary steps.

Dr Tajudeen explained that their focus was on hypertension, diabetes, eyes and other related non-communicable diseases that are on the increase.

"We have realised that non-communicable diseases are on the increase, what we have set out as our objective is to enable people with these diseases detect them before they become complicated.

"Before now, we used to have the prevalence of communicable diseases like Tuberculosis, but now we have noticed an increase in diseases that are not communicable like Hypertension, Diabetes and the likes," the ARD president said.

According to him, the screening exercise was in line with ARD-UITH's readiness to identify with the health plan of Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed,s administration.

Tajudeen, who said the screening exercise started in Government House on Wednesday, revealed that about 240 staff of government house were screened.

Speaking with newsmen during the exercise, the Senior Special Assistant to Governor Ahmed on Lands, Alhaji Muhideen Abdulkadir, described the exercise as laudable and advised civil servants in the state to take advantage of the opportunity which will greatly help them to have a sound health.

The governor's aide who also underwent screening commended the Kwara state government and the resident doctors of the UITH for according priority to the health of the citizens.