In a significant boost to healthcare delivery in North Central Nigeria, the Kwara State government has officially launched 83 revitalised Primary Health Centres (PHCs) across the state, achieved through strategic partnership with the World Bank.
A Partnership for Healthier Communities
The Executive Secretary of the Kwara State Primary Health Care Development Agency (PHCDA), Professor Nusirat Elelu, made the disclosure in Ilorin on Monday, December 22, 2025. She revealed that the transformation was made possible by the World Bank's IMPACT project, which facilitated the revitalisation of 70 PHCs.
An additional 13 facilities were upgraded using funds from the Basic Health Care Provision Funds, known as the Kwara State Project HOPE, alongside earnings from the 2023 and 2024 Leadership Challenge Fund Awards secured by the state.
More Than Just Buildings: A Leap in Service Delivery
Professor Elelu emphasised that the initiative represents far more than physical renovations. "It represents our renewed commitment to bringing quality healthcare to the doorsteps of our people," she stated. The upgraded facilities are now standard Level Two PHCs, each equipped with comprehensive amenities designed for 24-hour service.
The key features of each revitalised centre now include:
- Functional labour rooms for safe deliveries.
- Dedicated immunisation units with reliable cold chain systems.
- Antenatal and postnatal care units.
- Laboratories and pharmacies stocked with essential medicines.
- Solar-powered electricity and clean water from new motorised boreholes.
- Perimeter fencing and staff quarters to ensure constant operation.
Transforming Statistics into Secured Futures
The impact of the state's focused healthcare drive is already evident in dramatic statistics. Professor Elelu reported that over 722,000 outpatients have visited Kwara's PHCs, with more than 30,000 safe deliveries recorded—a massive increase from the 8,020 deliveries in 2020.
Furthermore, the reach of essential services has expanded exponentially:
- Over 500,000 pregnant women received haematinics, compared to 120,000 in 2020.
- More than 1.6 million children benefited from Vitamin A outreach, a leap from just over 100,000 children in 2020.
"They represent people whose futures have been secured due to the lifesaving services we provide," Elelu said, reframing the data as human stories.
Leadership and Strategic Vision
Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq attributed the World Bank's confidence in the state to his administration's bold commitment to quality healthcare for all citizens. He recalled inheriting a primary healthcare system in extreme disrepair and refusing to accept that reality.
"We embarked on a comprehensive health sector transformation agenda with primary healthcare as its cornerstone," the Governor said. "These facilities you see today represent more than mere buildings and equipment; they represent hope, dignity, and our administration’s determination to bridge the healthcare divide between urban and rural areas."
He highlighted partnerships with stakeholders like the World Bank, UNICEF, and others, enabled by enhanced commitment and prompt payment of counterpart funding.
A Call for Community Ownership
Also speaking at the event, the National Programme Manager of the project, Dr. Amina Abdul-One Muhammed, urged communities to utilise the new facilities fully. She issued a strong caution against vandalising the multi-million-naira investments, appealing for communal protection to ensure their sustainability for future generations.
The revival of these 83 health centres marks a pivotal step in Kwara State's journey towards universal health coverage, directly translating strategic partnerships into tangible, life-saving services for its rural and urban populations.
