The World Bank, via its IMPACT project, has financed the rehabilitation of 70 primary healthcare centres across Kwara State.
Also, 13 primary healthcare centres in the state have been rehabilitated through different funding agencies.
During the inauguration of one of the rehabilitated primary healthcare centres situated in the Oloje community of Ilorin West Local Government Area on Monday, Governor Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq said that the project was backed by the World Bank through the IMPACT Project, alongside funding from the Kwara State government, the Basic Healthcare Provision Fund, and the Leadership Challenge Fund, which the state successfully obtained.
The governor said that the facilities represent more than just buildings and equipment, adding that, “they represent hope, dignity, and our administration’s determination to bridge the healthcare divide between urban and rural areas.
“Each of these facilities has been renovated to new standards. Pregnant women will no longer need to travel long distances to access antenatal care and safe delivery services. Children will receive timely immunisations and treatment for common childhood illnesses.”
“Our youth will have access to reproductive health information and services. Our elderly will receive care for chronic conditions closer to home”.
Governor Abdulrazaq, who said that his administration inherited a primary health care system that was in a state of severe neglect with far-reaching consequences for the people, added that he, however, declined to accept the situation as reality.
“Instead, we worked in partnership with different stakeholders like the World Bank, especially the IMPACT project, UNICEF and others through enhanced commitment and prompt payment of counterpart funding. We embarked on a comprehensive health sector transformation agenda with primary health care as its cornerstone.
Also speaking, the executive secretary of the state Primary Health Care Development Agency (PHCDA) Professor Nusirat Elelu, said that the 83 newly rehabilitated facilities have been upgraded to standard Level two PHCs.
“These 83 newly revitalised facilities have been upgraded to standard Level two PHCs. Each, now equipped with functional labour rooms for safe deliveries, dedicated immunisation units with reliable cold chain systems, antenatal and postnatal care units, laboratories and pharmacies, essential medicines and equipment, solar-powered electricity, clean water through newly installed motorised boreholes, perimeter fencing and adequate staff quarters to ensure 24-hour service readiness,” she said.
She also said that over 722,000 outpatients have visited Kwara’s PHCs, with over 30,000 deliveries recorded compared to 8,020 deliveries in 2020.
“Over 500,000 pregnant women were reached with haematinics compared to 120,000 in 2020, while over 1.6million children benefited from our Vitamin A outreach exercise compared to just over 100,000 children reached in 2020.”
She said that the figures were not just statistics, adding that, “they represent people whose futures have been secured due to the lifesaving services we provide”.
