The Kaduna State Government has commenced the revitalisation of 82 Primary Healthcare Centres, PHCs, across the state to strengthen healthcare delivery.
Governor Uba Sani, represented by the Secretary to the State Government, SSG, Dr Abdulkadir 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 through the provision of ambulances and improving water, sanitation and other essential infrastructure.
Mr Meyare said the intervention demonstrated the administration’s commitment to making quality, affordable and accessible healthcare available to all residents.
He said primary healthcare remained the first point of contact between citizens and the health system.
He said the facilities were where mothers accessed antenatal care, 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.
Mr 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.
The SSG said the investments formed part of Kaduna’s broader journey towards universal health coverage without financial hardship.
He said success would be measured by improved antenatal care, immunisation, emergency referrals, availability of medicines and better patient experiences.
Earlier, Prof Bello 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.
