L-R: Ekiti State Governor, Dr Kayode Fayemi, presenting a cheque to Master Usman Odunayo, diagnosed of Cancer of the Eye; and his mother, Mrs. Alice Usman, during the Inauguration of Medical Equipment and Presentation of Cheques to Medical Medical Assistance Beneficiaries, in Ado-Ekiti... on Tuesday.
Ekiti State Government on Tuesday, expended a total N55million (Fifty-five Million Naira) on procurement of medical equipment and offsetting medical bills of citizens who could not afford the high medical bills occasioned by their financial barriers.
The pathetic case of one of the beneficiaries, five year old Master Usman Odunayo, who was diagnosed of Cancer of the eye, moved some of the people around to tears when he was presented a check for his medical bill by the Governor.
Usman’s mother who had been shouldering the huge medical bills for the young lad shed tears as she came out to pick the cheque. The young Usman, apparently unmindful of the development, held on to the cheque as they returned to their seat.
Usman was said to have been diagnosed of cancer of the eye some months ago, after several months of seeking medical solution in different hospital.
Beneficiaries of the government’s financial assistance are indigent citizens suffering from diverse ailment including cancer, cronic eye problems and other ailments requiring specialised surgeries.
Presenting cheques of N20.6m to 31 beneficiaries of the state’s medical assistance scheme in Ado Ekiti on Tuesday, the State Governor, Dr. Kayode Fayemi said the gesture was to demonstrate the commitment of his administration to assisting the vulnerable groups in the State.
Fayemi who restated the resolve of his administration to ensuring a healthy society said the government was not unaware of the daunting challenges facing health care delivery being a sector that required huge financial commitment; adding that his administration was prepared to address the challenges and make the citizenry live a life that is devoid of preventable diseases regardless of the meagre resources that accrue to the state government.
“These conditions are further exacerbated by the weak financial strength of these people whose conditions were fast deteriorating. The state government had come to the situation to practically demonstrate our commitment to assisting vulnerable groups in our midst. In this circumstance, it is to offset the high medical bills occasioned by the critical medical conditions of these fellow citizens thereby breaking the financial barriers to their good health”, he said.
While assuring that the government would continue to embark on interventions aimed at rendering effective health care services in line with the 8-point agenda, the Governor expressed optimism that the financial assistance would not only bring succour to the beneficiaries but also ensure their speedy recovery from their ailments.
Meanwhile the Governor has also commissioned medical equipment worth Thirty-five Million Naira for distribution to free health facilities as well as the State’s Free Health Mission to ensure that effective health services are made available to all citizens and residents of the State.
The equipment which included hospital beds and mattresses, 10KVA Elipak Generating set, delivery beds, binocular microscopes, hematocrit centrifuge and mobile ultrasound scanning machines among others, are to complement health services delivery at the primary health care level and to promote prompt referral to the secondary and tertiary facilities.
Fayemi who stated that four units of ambulance vehicles with a 2-way radio communication equipment have already been provided for the State Ambulance Services added that the state government has commenced facility upgradings in six General Hospitals in the State while the state government is also in the process of equipping the newly built accident and emergency ward of the State University Teaching Hospital (EKSUTH).
one of the beneficiaries, Caroline Olofin thanked the Governor for the gesture and prayed that God would sustain the Fayemi-led administration.
Last modified: June 19, 2012
