The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) has completed the renovation of three Primary Health Care (PHC) facilities in Katsina State, a move aimed at expanding access to quality healthcare services for women, children and vulnerable groups across the state.
The upgraded facilities, renovated with support from the Global Fund, are the Maternal and Child Health Centre (MCHC) in Bakiyawa, Batagarawa Local Government Area, Sabon Gari Primary Health Centre in Daura Local Government Area, and Dandutse Primary Health Centre in Funtua Local Government Area.
Speaking during the official handover of the renovated Bakiyawa MCHC on Thursday, UNICEF Health Manager at the Kano Field Office, Dr. Serekeberehan Seyoum, described the project as a significant milestone in efforts to strengthen primary healthcare delivery in Katsina.
He said the intervention would not only improve access to essential health services but also provide a more conducive working environment for healthcare personnel serving the benefiting communities.
According to Seyoum, the upgraded facilities are expected to play a vital role in addressing the healthcare needs of women, children and other vulnerable populations, while contributing to broader efforts to improve health outcomes in the state.
However, he stressed that the long-term success of the project would depend on sustained government commitment, proper management and active community participation.
“Today, UNICEF formally hands over these facilities to the Katsina State Primary Health Care Agency, transferring responsibility for their management, utilisation and maintenance,” he said.
“We encourage the state government to ensure adequate staffing, regular supply of essential medicines and medical consumables, routine maintenance and the immediate commencement of quality healthcare services so that communities can fully benefit from this investment.”
Seyoum also expressed appreciation to the Katsina State Government, local authorities, community leaders and the Global Fund for their collaboration in making the project a reality.
He reaffirmed UNICEF’s commitment to supporting initiatives aimed at strengthening the state's healthcare system and improving the wellbeing of residents.
Katsina Government Pledges Additional Support
Responding, the Acting Executive Secretary of the Katsina State Primary Health Care Agency, Dr. Shema’u Kabir, assured that the state government would provide additional equipment needed to ensure the facility becomes fully operational.
She explained that the agency would conduct an assessment of the facility's needs and submit recommendations to the government to complement the equipment already supplied.
Kabir also disclosed that health workers previously assigned to the facility before the renovation would return to continue service delivery.
She highlighted the state government's ongoing healthcare revitalisation programme, which seeks to upgrade at least one primary healthcare facility in each of Katsina’s 361 wards.
According to her, another healthcare facility in Bakiyawa had earlier benefited from a comprehensive government intervention that included renovation, provision of medical equipment, an ambulance, a tricycle and deployment of healthcare personnel.
She noted that the newly renovated MCHC would require additional government support because it falls outside the facilities already prioritised under the state's ward-based revitalisation initiative.
The renovation and handover of the three facilities come amid growing efforts by development partners and the Katsina State Government to strengthen primary healthcare infrastructure, improve maternal and child health services, and expand access to quality healthcare in underserved communities.
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