By Joy Salami
The Kogi State Government, has commenced activities marking the 2025 Civil Service Week with a free medical outreach for workers and residents, reaffirming its commitment to the welfare and well-being of the state’s workforce.
The programme, held on Friday at the State Secretariat Complex in Lokoja, drew hundreds of civil servants, retirees, and community members who accessed free health services, including medical consultations, blood pressure checks, blood sugar tests, malaria screening, and the distribution of essential drugs.
Organised by the Office of the Head of Civil Service, the outreach also offered health education, counselling, and referrals for further treatment where necessary. Beneficiaries were screened for hypertension, diabetes, malaria, and other common ailments.
Declaring the event open, the Head of Civil Service, Dr. Elijah Evinemi, represented by the Permanent Secretary, Administration and Public Service, Mr. Celestine Idoko, described the initiative as a proactive measure to promote a healthy and productive workforce.
A healthy civil servant is a productive civil servant. The welfare of workers must go beyond salaries and allowances to include preventive healthcare and timely medical interventions, Dr. Evinemi said.
He noted that the Civil Service Week was not only a period to celebrate the dedication of workers but also an opportunity to review challenges, strengthen bonds, and address critical needs such as health.
The HoS commended the medical team for their professionalism and urged workers to make regular health checks a personal priority.
Some beneficiaries expressed delight at the revival of the Civil Service Week, describing the outreach as a morale booster.
This is a great relief for many of us. Some people have been postponing check-ups because of financial constraints, but today we were attended to without paying a kobo, Mrs Arudi remarked.
They appreciated the State Governor, Alhaji Ahmed Usman Ododo, and the Head of Civil Service for placing the welfare of civil servants at the heart of governance.
The medical outreach is one of several activities lined up for the 2025 Civil Service Week, which will also feature lectures, interactive sessions, sports competitions, and an award ceremony to honour outstanding civil servants.
The week will climax on 12th August 2025 with a grand finale, during which the State Government is expected to reaffirm its commitment to building a motivated, healthy, and efficient workforce capable of driving Kogi’s development agenda.
