Kwara State to recruit health workers amid calls for more teachers and water supply.

Kwara State’s LGSC seeks applicants to fill healthcare vacancies, as residents outline urgent needs to the state government.

According to LGSC Chairperson Umar Shero, the vacancies are predominantly in rural areas, where a significant shortage of medical staff exists.

“The vacancies are for medical doctors; nurses/midwives; CHO; CHEW/JCHEW; Pharm/Technicians; Lab technicians; and health attendants,” according to the statement.

“The recruitment exercise will priorities the ad-hoc staff who are currently in the system. They will get the right of first refusal as a matter of compensation for their work,” it said.

Applicants are requested to submit their filled digital application forms from now until September 20.

At a recent summit for community-based organizations, participants called on the state government to increase the number of teachers and healthcare workers in rural areas, a report by Laws Olohungbebe, SSA to the Governor, revealed.

According to Mashood Agboola, Deputy Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, the report was compiled from the summit that took place statewide from August 20 to 24 and was released in a statement on Monday.

“The summit brought together 900 CBOs to discuss strategies for advancing development and promoting inclusive growth in the state. The summit highlighted and applauded some of the government’s initiatives, including ongoing urban renewal projects and infrastructural development, welfare programmes, recruitment and promotion exercise, distribution of palliative items, among others.”

The report, as stated by Mr. Agboola, emphasized the need for the government to prioritize essential services like potable water, public toilets, cash relief, and increased recruitment of teachers and healthcare professionals in rural communities.

“The report also quoted participants as asking the government to convert abandoned public buildings in the communities to good use and pass or domesticate legislations that provide legal protections and support services for people with disabilities.

“Participants also wanted such summit or town hall meetings to be held more frequently for improved dialogue between government representatives and community members, according to the report.

“The summit, while confirming the impacts of government’s social protection programmes, called on Kwara State Social Investment Programme (KWASSIP) to re-evaluate and revalidate the lists of beneficiaries so that dead persons or those who may have relocated can be replaced.

“Participants called for a reintroduction of the agricultural development programme (ADP) and for more farm extension workers to work with CBOs for better impacts.

Similarly, emphasis was placed on the need for the government to construct more rural roads. The participants also urged the government to adopt a community approach in future distribution of farm inputs, especially fertilizers,” it added.