The Kaduna State Government has begun revitalising 82 Primary Healthcare Centres (PHCs) across the state to strengthen healthcare delivery.
Gov. Uba Sani, represented by the Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Dr Abdulkadir Mu’azu Meyare, performed the groundbreaking ceremony on Wednesday in Kaduna.
The project includes upgrading 82 PHCs to Level 2 status and rehabilitating selected PHCs into Centres of Excellences
The initiative also includes strengthening emergency referrals by providing ambulances and improving water, sanitation, and other essential infrastructure.
Representing the governor, Meyare said the intervention demonstrated the administration’s commitment to providing quality, affordable, and accessible healthcare to all residents.
He said primary healthcare remained the first point of contact between citizens and the health system.
He said mothers accessed antenatal care at these facilities, children received immunisation, and common illnesses were treated.
He added that diseases were detected early at PHCs, while communities received essential preventive and promotive health services.
According to him, the upgrade would address infrastructure, equipment, essential medicines, human resources, service delivery systems and quality improvement.
“Our objective is clear: when a citizen walks into a government health facility, that citizen should find a functional facility,” he said.
He added that citizens should also find competent healthcare workers, essential medicines and systems that respond with dignity and respect.
Meyare said the Centres of Excellence would serve as stronger PHC hubs supporting surrounding facilities, referrals, clinical quality and reliable health information.
He said the ambulances would strengthen emergency referrals and reduce avoidable delays, particularly during maternal, newborn, and other life-threatening emergencies.
The SSG, however, stressed the need for clear referral protocols, trained personnel, fuel, maintenance arrangements, communication systems and proper monitoring.
He urged local government authorities and facility managers to protect the ambulances as public assets and ensure their proper utilisation.
He said the government’s reform agenda was anchored on equity, with deliberate efforts to extend quality healthcare to rural and underserved communities.
He said the investments formed part of Kaduna’s broader journey towards universal health coverage without financial hardship.
The governor said success would be measured by improved antenatal care, immunisation, emergency referrals, availability of medicines and better patient experiences.
Earlier, Prof Bello Yusuf Jamoh, Executive Secretary, Kaduna State Primary Health Care Board, described the project as a comprehensive health system investment.
Jamoh said the intervention would cover 82 additional PHCs, 23 Centres of Excellence and strengthened referral services through ambulance provision.
He said the programme would also include construction of 15 new gender-based toilets and renovation of 156 existing ones across the state.
He said the revitalisation would improve buildings, water, sanitation, electricity, equipment, medicines, human resources and other essential amenities.
Jamoh disclosed that Gov. Sani had approved the recruitment of an additional 1,000 healthcare workers, with the exercise commencing during the week.
He said the workers would receive enhanced remuneration under the CONMESS and CONHESS salary structures.
According to him, the Centres of Excellence would serve as hubs for quality improvement, mentorship, referral, data use and learning.
Jamoh said the board would strengthen supervision, preventive maintenance, commodity management, human resource planning and community accountability.
He said the ultimate measure of the intervention would be improved access, service utilisation, patient experience and health outcomes.
Pharmacist Saidu Bala, representing the Commissioner of Health, Hajiya Umma Ahmed, said the project marked an important milestone in healthcare transformation.
Ahmad urged local government chairmen to take ownership of the projects and ensure strict and continuous supervision.
she also urged contractors to execute the projects with professionalism and integrity without compromising approved designs, materials or workmanship.
she said the Ministry of Health and the Primary Health Care Board would continue monitoring implementation to ensure delivery of functional and quality facilities.
Representing traditional leaders, Alhaji Ibrahim Tukur commended the state government for bringing quality and accessible healthcare closer to communities.
Tukur prayed for successful completion of the projects and their sustained benefit to residents.
Dauda Iliya, Chairman, Kubau Local Government Council, who represented other council chairmen, commended the PHC board for its collaboration with local governments.
Iliya also highlighted the planned renovation and upgrading of Hunkuyi General Hospital, saying it would benefit communities in neighbouring local government areas.
He advocated greater automation of health service processes to strengthen accountability, transparency and maintenance of health facilities.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that, Kaduna state government said the intervention formed part of its wider health-sector investments since the administration assumed office in May 2023.
It said 255 PHCs had already been upgraded to Level 2 status, while 16 general hospitals had been renovated and equipped across the senatorial districts.
NAN also reports that, the administration of govt Uba Sani had also commissioned a 300-bed hospital in Millennium City as part of efforts to strengthen secondary healthcare services.(NAN)
Nation news
