The Kwara State Primary Health Care Development Agency (KWSPHCDA) has received a substantial financial injection of N887,800,000 from the World Bank. This funding is earmarked to bolster 193 Primary Health Centres scattered across the state.
This development was contained in a report detailing how funds were utilised from the World Bank Immunisation Plus and Malaria Progress project. The report, signed by Alade Opeyemi, Press Secretary of KWSPHCDA, highlights the state’s commitment to improving healthcare services.
The report notes, “Each Primary Health Centre (PHC) facility is slated to receive N4.6 million to enhance facilities and procure necessary equipment tailored to their unique needs identified through pre-project assessments.
The implementation phase of the IMPACTS project is now in full swing, featuring upgrades to facilities, equipment acquisitions, and various outlined initiatives. Notable acquisitions will include laboratory equipment for 193 PHCs, 30 ultrasound scan machines, 73 outreach tricycles, 186 outreach motorcycles, 186 desktop computers, and the installation of 72 boreholes.
In adherence to the World Bank-approved investment plans, select PHCs will also undertake minor renovations to raise their facilities to acceptable minimum standards. The funds, directly deposited into the accounts of each PHC, will provide them with the flexibility to address their unique needs as outlined in their investment plans.”
The state’s qualification criteria for the World Bank IMPACTS program are substantial investments in the primary healthcare sector and fulfilling the requirement of state counterpart funds. This initiative marks a significant step towards improving healthcare accessibility in the state.
Recently, Kwara State secured the National Award for being Nigeria’s best state in primary healthcare. This recognition reflects the state’s ongoing efforts to bolster confidence in its healthcare system.
Evidence of this success is apparent in the noteworthy increase in the total number of deliveries, which doubled in 2023 compared to figures from 2020. Furthermore, antenatal attendance witnessed a substantial rise, with 422,631 women seeking prenatal care in our hospitals, compared to 94,276 in 2020, according to data from the DHIS2 platform.
Projects like the World Bank IMPACTS and Basic Health Care Provision Funds will continue to be implemented to reduce infant/maternal mortality and improve PHC services in the state.
