Kwara healthcare revitalisation has transformed 83 PHCs, improved maternal services, reduced child mortality, and expanded access to lifesaving care statewide.
The Kwara State Government has recorded major improvements in public health delivery following the successful revitalisation of 83 primary healthcare centres across the state, a move officials say is already translating into better maternal and child health outcomes.
Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq disclosed this during the commissioning of the renovated facilities in Ilorin, describing the initiative as a cornerstone of his administration’s health-sector reforms.
According to the governor, the Kwara healthcare revitalisation programme was achieved through a blend of state funding and strategic partnerships with development agencies, including the World Bank-supported IMPACT Project, the Basic Healthcare Provision Fund, and Leadership Challenge Funds secured by the state.
He noted that the intervention reflects a deliberate effort to rebuild a primary healthcare system that had suffered years of neglect and underinvestment.
AbdulRazaq said his government inherited healthcare facilities that were largely dysfunctional, limiting access to basic medical services for many communities, particularly in rural areas.
Rather than accepting this as unavoidable, he explained that the administration prioritised healthcare renewal by committing resources, ensuring prompt payment of counterpart funds, and engaging global and local partners to restore confidence in the system.
One of the most striking results of the Kwara healthcare revitalisation effort, the governor revealed, is the dramatic improvement in child health indicators.
More than 1.6 million children across the state have now been reached with Vitamin A supplementation, compared to just over 100,000 children in 2020.
This expansion in coverage, he said, has contributed to Kwara recording one of the lowest under-five mortality rates in Nigeria.
“It is always heartwarming to say that Kwara State remains one of the safest places to be born in the country,” AbdulRazaq stated.
He added that the progress underscores the government’s resolve to deliver quality healthcare to residents regardless of their location or socioeconomic status.
The revitalised primary healthcare centres, the governor explained, have been upgraded to modern standards, enabling them to deliver a wider range of essential services.
Pregnant women can now access antenatal care and skilled delivery services closer to home, reducing risks associated with long-distance travel during emergencies.
Children are benefiting from timely immunisation and treatment for common childhood illnesses, while young people have improved access to reproductive health education and services.
Elderly residents are also experiencing the impact of the Kwara healthcare revitalisation, with many now able to receive care for chronic conditions such as hypertension and diabetes within their communities.
AbdulRazaq noted that decentralising healthcare services has helped ease pressure on secondary and tertiary hospitals while strengthening trust in grassroots healthcare delivery.
Encouraged by the gains recorded so far, the governor said the state government would continue to invest in the sector by recruiting more healthcare workers and improving staff welfare.
He stressed that human capacity development remains essential to sustaining the improvements achieved through infrastructure upgrades.
Earlier, the Executive Secretary of the Kwara State Primary Healthcare Development Agency, Professor Nusirat Elelu, provided further insight into how the revitalisation has changed service utilisation patterns across the state.
She said the number of patients visiting primary healthcare centres has increased significantly, reflecting renewed public confidence in the facilities.
According to Elelu, outpatient visits have surged to over 722,000, compared to just 8,020 recorded in 2020. Similarly, more than 500,000 pregnant women have received haematinics, a sharp rise from the figures recorded before the reforms.
These outcomes, she said, highlight the real-life impact of the Kwara healthcare revitalisation initiative.
“These are not just statistics,” Elelu emphasised.
“They represent people whose futures have been secured because they now have access to lifesaving services within their communities.”
She credited the success of the programme to strong collaboration between the state government, development partners, and host communities, many of which have taken ownership of the revitalised facilities.
According to her, community engagement has played a vital role in ensuring sustainability and accountability.
Elelu stressed that while the commissioning of the facilities marks a major milestone, it is only the beginning of a broader health reform journey.
The agency, she said, remains committed to expanding coverage, maintaining standards, and ensuring that every naira invested translates into measurable improvements in health outcomes.
Beyond new buildings and equipment, Elelu noted that the Kwara healthcare revitalisation represents a renewed commitment to inclusive healthcare delivery.
She said the reforms are reaching mothers who previously delivered at home without skilled birth attendants and communities that were once considered too remote to access formal healthcare services.
She concluded that every family now benefiting from the revitalised centres stands as evidence of what can be achieved when leadership, vision, and strategic partnerships align to prioritise public welfare.
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