By Thompson Yamput
The World Bank on Friday commended Gov. Ahmed Ododo, for expanding healthcare services to the hard-to-reach and underserved communities across the state.
The World Bank’s Senior Health Specialist, Dr. Onoriode Ezire, gave the commendation during a monitoring and assessment visit to selected facilities under the IMPACT Project and other revitalized primary healthcare centres across Kogi.
The IMPACT Project, Immunisation Plus and Malaria Progress by Accelerating Coverage and Transforming Services, is a World Bank-supported initiative aimed at improving the quality and utilization of healthcare services in Nigeria.
The project targets the renovation of over 239 Primary Healthcare Centres (PHCs) and the installation of modern medical equipment in 88 facilities, with the goal of reducing maternal and child mortality.
The initiative also promotes community-driven development by providing critical infrastructure such as solar power, water supply, and staff quarters, while strengthening immunization and malaria services to enhance overall access to healthcare at the grassroots.
Dr. Ezire praised the Kogi government for its significant investment in the health sector, stressing “the state has provided well-equipped facilities, qualified personnel, and a conducive environment for the successful implementation of the World Bank-assisted programme.
“We hereby urge residents of the state to take advantage of the improved facilities available at PHCs across Kogi to improve their health outcomes.”
He also commended the Kogi Commissioner for Health, Dr. Abdulazeez Adams-Adeiza, and the Executive Director of the State Primary Healthcare Development Agency (PHCDA), Dr. Muazu Omeiza-Musa, for their commitment and dedication to strengthening healthcare delivery in the state.
In his remarks, Adams-Adeiza, reaffirmed the state government’s commitment to sustained investment in the health sector, describing quality healthcare delivery as a priority of the administration.
Similarly, the PHCDA boss, Omeiza-Musa, assured residents of the availability of quality healthcare services in Primary Healthcare Centres across the state.
The IMPACT Project Manager, Mr. Theophilus Olorunmaiye, stated that all equipment and financial resources provided under the project are being judiciously utilized to achieve the programme’s objectives.
Ezire, who also visited the Maigari of Lokoja, HRH Alhaji Ibrahim Kabir-Maikarfi IV, appealed to the traditional ruler to encourage his subjects to patronize the healthcare facilities provided by government and to support efforts to ensure the security of the PHCs within the domain.
The representative of the Maigari of Lokoja and the Maiyaki of Lokoja, Alhaji Ali Lawal, expressed appreciation for the visit and assured that the traditional institution would support efforts to safeguard the health facilities, particularly the one located close to the palace.
The IMPACT team also paid a courtesy visit to the Chairman of Lokoja Local Government, who pledged continued collaboration between the council and the Kogi State Primary Healthcare Development Agency to sustain the gains recorded in the health sector.
Highlights of the visit included the decoration of Dr. Onoriode Ezire with traditional attire at the palace of the Maigari of Lokoja, Alhaji Ibrahim Kabir Maikarfi IV, through his representative, Alhaji Ali Lawal, as well as presentations at the Golden Grand Hotel, Lokoja.
The team also inspected facilities at Agbadu Bunu Primary Healthcare Centre and Old Market Primary Healthcare Centre in Lokoja. (ephemeralnews.com.ng)
