The Kogi State Government has announced plans to spend over N7 billion to renovate 88 additional primary care centers (PHCs) across the 21 local government areas of the state.
Governor Ahmed Usman Ododo revealed this on Saturday at a ceremony held at the Oworo Estate Model Primary Health Care Center in Felele, Lokoja, to officially hand over the sites of the additional 88 Primary Care Centers to state government contractors for revitalization throughout the state.
Governor Ododo, represented by the State Commissioner for Health, Dr Abdulazeez Adams, noted that the revitalization of the new set of 88 Primary Health Centers follows the commencement of the revitalization of over 70 Primary Health Centers already They are in various stages of completion after approval by the state government in March 2024.
He noted that the renovation of primary health care centers, which will upgrade more than 150 of these institutions in the state to level 2 functional health facilities, reflects the commitment of the current administration to improve access to health care delivery throughout the state.
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He added that the improvement of primary health care facilities is part of the Kogi State Government's strategic plan to improve access to quality healthcare services in all parts of the state with the support of the World Bank.
“As we move into the New Year 2025, we are proud to launch a groundbreaking initiative: the upgrade of 88 additional Primary Care Centers (PHCs) across the state, complementing the ongoing upgrade of 70 PHCs to functional Level 2 facilities. .
“This marks another bold step towards achieving effective healthcare delivery and universal health coverage for our people.
“With the invaluable support of the World Bank, the Kogi State Government has committed over £7 billion to this project, a testament to our unwavering dedication to improving the lives of our citizens,” Governor Ododo said.
Governor Ododo expressed his gratitude to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for his visionary leadership in giving top priority to the well-being of ordinary Nigerians through improved access to healthcare, especially for people at the grassroots level.
He also recognized the efforts of the immediate past administration of former Governor Yahaha Bello to lay solid foundations in the health sector in the state.
He called on contractors to adhere to the highest standards of professionalism in the execution of projects and ensure timely completion of all projects within four months.
The Governor, who urged the contractors to collaborate with local government authorities and community stakeholders to achieve an inclusive approach towards social and environmental safeguards in the implementation of the project, also called on local authorities and community stakeholders all communities where the appropriated projects have been located and ensure adequate protection of personnel, equipment and Primary Health Care Centers once completed.
He also called for effective supervision of the projects by all relevant government authorities under the coordination of the state Health Ministry.
Newslodge