Kwara to Revitalize Five Primary Health Centres With Global Fund and UNICEF
The Kwara State Government has joined hands with the Global Fund, through the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), to revitalize five Primary Health Care (PHC) centres across the state under the Global Fund COVID-19 Response Mechanism (C19RM) Grant.
The initiative aims to strengthen primary healthcare delivery and improve access to quality health services, particularly in rural and underserved communities. The intervention aligns with the state government’s ongoing reforms to position PHCs as the cornerstone of an effective and resilient health system.
In a statement on Tuesday, Bukola Abdulganiyu, Press Secretary of the Kwara State Primary Health Care Development Agency (KWSPHCDA), quoted the agency’s Executive Secretary, Prof. Nusirat Elelu, as saying this during a meeting with a UNICEF delegation in her office.
Prof. Elelu explained that the revitalization project will include renovating the main PHC buildings, installing solar power systems, constructing boreholes to ensure a reliable potable water supply, and providing essential medical equipment based on a UNICEF-led gap analysis. She added that the project would be executed efficiently and within the approved timelines.
“The agency will facilitate prompt handover of facilities to contractors, ensure uninterrupted access to project sites, provide adequate security, and closely monitor the quality and progress of work,” she said. Community engagement and awareness campaigns would also be prioritized to ensure smooth execution.
A focal officer will coordinate activities between the National Primary Health Care Development Agency, UNICEF, and the contractors, while measures will be taken to prevent disruption of health services during implementation. Prof. Elelu expressed gratitude to the Global Fund and UNICEF for their continued support in improving health outcomes in Kwara State.
UNICEF representative, Mr. Gamaliel Ismaila Dargam, said Kwara remains a priority beneficiary of the C19RM intervention. He commended the state government’s commitment to providing quality health care and assured that UNICEF would fulfill its responsibilities under the partnership.
The five PHCs approved for revitalization are: the Mobile Health Clinic, Okuta, in Baruten Local Government Area; Basic Health Care Centre, Kulende, Ilorin South Local Government Area; Primary Health Care Centre, Ojagboro, Ilorin East Local Government Area; Primary Health Care Centre, Ilofa, Oke Ero Local Government Area; and the Model Primary Health Care Centre, Kpada, Patigi Local Government Area.
The partnership shows the state government’s dedication to improving primary healthcare services and ensuring that residents, especially those in hard-to-reach communities, have access to essential medical care.
