Kwara State Ministry of Health Rebuts 'One Doctor to 12,000 People' Claim, Highlights Reforms Since 2019

The Kwara State Ministry of Health has responded to a THISDAY article published on April 1, 2026, titled “In Kwara, It’s One Doctor to 12,000 People.” In the right-of-reply penned by Commissioner Dr. Amina Ahmed El-Imam, the government acknowledges challenges in the health sector but rejects the portrayal of systemic collapse.

Since 2019, the administration has implemented reforms to strengthen primary, secondary, and tertiary healthcare, including infrastructure upgrades, workforce expansion, and health insurance coverage.

Primary and Secondary Healthcare Upgrades

The government has renovated and equipped 193 Primary Health Centres (PHCs) across all 16 Local Government Areas (LGAs) under the Basic Health Care Provision Fund (BHCPF). Additionally, 83 PHCs were upgraded through the Immunisation Plus and Malaria Progress by Accelerating Coverage and Transformation (IMPACT) programme, with several others under state-supported initiatives. Several general hospitals have also undergone phased infrastructural upgrades, similar to Abuja's health upgrades.

Tertiary Healthcare and Teaching Hospital Initiatives

The State Government converted General Hospital Ilorin to Kwara State University Teaching Hospital (KWASUTH), which has been accredited by the Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria (MDCN) for training medical students. The state has partnered with Thomas Adewumi University, Oko, and Al-Hikmah University, Ilorin, to convert General Hospital Omu-Aran and Sobi Specialist Hospital into affiliated teaching hospitals to improve service delivery and training capacity, addressing issues like those in hospital mandates.

At KWASUTH, occasional operational challenges like power or water disruptions are addressed through budgetary provisions, alternative power sources, and maintenance. The ministry states there was no blanket suspension of Caesarean Section services for two weeks; any disruptions were due to specific circumstances with contingency arrangements.

Verified data shows sustained surgical activity:

• January: 116 Caesarean Sections, 351 total surgeries
• February: 151 Caesarean Sections, 379 total surgeries

KWASUTH has a fully functional central generator powering the entire facility and water storage systems for round-the-clock supply.

This accreditation, granted after rigorous assessment of infrastructure and requisite personnel, stands as a strong attestation and underscores the government’s commitment to sustained investment in healthcare infrastructure, human resources, and provision of quality healthcare service delivery.

Workforce Expansion and Accreditations

The doctor-to-patient ratio cited in the article is described as a concoction and a national challenge due to global migration. The state maintains open recruitment for doctors and health workers. Over 1,000 health workers were recruited into primary healthcare in 2025; 150 nurses and midwives will resume soon across secondary hospitals; dozens of staff, including doctors, were recruited for KWASUTH.

Salaries are at parity with federal structures and paid promptly, with support for training via the Medical Residency Training Fund (MRTF) and allowances. Accreditations include the Pharmacy Council of Nigeria for 30 intern pharmacists and for nurses; efforts continue for Medical Laboratory Science Council of Nigeria (MLSCN) accreditation.

Equipment and Health Insurance

Advanced diagnostic equipment has been procured, including a 1.5 Tesla MRI machine for KWASUTH (installation ongoing) and repairs to the 0.3 Tesla MRI at Harmony Advanced Diagnostic Centre (HADC), soon available for public use.

Through the Kwara State Health Insurance Agency (KWHIA), thousands of residents, especially vulnerable populations, have access to affordable care, akin to national efforts like Nigeria's GIFSHIP. Civil servants will soon join the KwaraCare scheme to advance universal health coverage.

The ministry notes workforce mobility is a global issue and emphasizes steady progress from inherited structures, with new doctor deployments and renewable energy in cottage and general hospitals forthcoming, building on successes like TB death reductions.

Conclusion

While challenges persist, Kwara State’s healthcare system is undergoing sustained improvement, with new equipment in public hospitals and focus on workforce, training, and service delivery.

Dr. Amina Ahmed El-Imam is the Commissioner for Health, Kwara State.