Kwara State has achieved a significant milestone in healthcare delivery, emerging as the highest-ranked state in Northern Nigeria and securing fourth position nationwide in the latest SBM Health Preparedness Index.
The recent ranking represents a dramatic improvement from Kwara's 15th position in 2023, showcasing one of the most remarkable progress stories in Nigeria's health sector.
Understanding the Health Preparedness Index
The SBM Health Preparedness Index (HPI) serves as a comprehensive assessment tool that evaluates the capacity of Nigeria's 36 states to respond effectively to health emergencies and deliver quality healthcare services.
This annual ranking draws from multiple credible data sources including the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS), World Health Organisation (WHO), The Lancet, Nigeria Demographic and Health Survey (NDHS), BudgIT, The Cable, and academic institutions such as the Faculty of Medical Sciences of Radboud University and the Global Data Lab.
The index measures critical indicators including health budget performance, average household size, human capital development index, doctor-to-population ratio, infant and child mortality, life expectancy, and immunization coverage.
Kwara's Healthcare Transformation Journey
Kwara's impressive rise in the ranking reflects the strong political will and strategic vision of Executive Governor Mallam AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq (CON), whose administration has consistently prioritized health as a cornerstone of sustainable development.
Over recent years, the state government has made unprecedented investments in the health sector, implementing comprehensive reforms that include rehabilitating and equipping primary healthcare centres across all 16 local government areas.
The administration has recruited over a thousand health professionals and ensured consistent supply of essential drugs and commodities to healthcare facilities throughout the state.
Additional targeted initiatives have focused on improving maternal and child health, expanding immunization coverage, strengthening disease surveillance, and enhancing health financing mechanisms through innovative partnerships with national and international development partners.
Leadership Perspectives on the Achievement
Commissioner for Finance Dr. Hauwa Nuru attributed the state's remarkable leap in ranking to improved budgeting and prudent resource management under the current administration.
"This outcome clearly demonstrates how Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq's fiscal discipline and transparent resource allocation are translating into measurable results in the health sector," she stated.
Commissioner for Health Dr. Amina Ahmed El-Imam praised the administration's unwavering commitment, noting that "His Excellency has consistently shown leadership and resolve in strengthening the health system — from infrastructure renewal to capacity building and improved service delivery."
Professor Nusirat Elelu, Executive Secretary of the Kwara State Primary Health Care Development Agency, emphasized that the achievement validates the Governor's bold reforms and investments in the health sector.
She highlighted the state's improved performance in critical indicators such as immunization, human capital development, and life expectancy as evidence that the administration's people-centred policies are yielding tangible results.
The ranking reinforces Kwara's status as the safest state for a child to be born in Nigeria, with the lowest under-five mortality rate of 14 per 1,000 live births according to the 2023/24 Nigeria Demographic and Health Survey (NDHS).
This new positioning firmly establishes Kwara among Nigeria's top-performing states in terms of health preparedness, resilience, and service delivery, setting a benchmark for progressive governance and sustainable health system development nationwide.
