The Federal Government has announced the revitalization of 991 primary healthcare centres (PHCs) across Nigeria as part of a broad effort to strengthen the country’s healthcare delivery system. This was revealed on Tuesday by Dr. Muyi Aina, Executive Director of the National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA), during a quarterly media briefing marking the commencement of World Vaccination Week.
In addition to the upgraded facilities, 2,701 more PHCs are currently undergoing renovation, Aina said, emphasizing the government’s commitment to expanding access to quality healthcare at the grassroots level.
Tech-Driven Healthcare and Workforce Development
Dr. Aina highlighted the agency’s adoption of technology to enhance healthcare delivery. A new “life dashboard” system has been introduced to monitor and assess PHC performance across all wards in Nigeria.
He also announced that 120,000 healthcare workers have been retrained nationwide, while emergency response services have been strengthened with the deployment of ambulances across various states.
Maternal and Neonatal Care Initiative Expands
Addressing maternal and child health, Aina said the Maternal and Neonatal Mortality Reduction Initiative has been launched in 172 local government areas across five states. The goal, he noted, is to reduce preventable maternal and newborn deaths.
Significant Progress in National Vaccination Programs
On the immunization front, Nigeria has made major strides. According to Aina, vaccination coverage has increased by 54%, with seven states achieving significant improvements. So far, 26 million children have been vaccinated through various national campaigns.
In the fight against malaria, 101,158 children have been vaccinated across four states, signaling progress in integrating the malaria vaccine into routine immunization.
New Polio Vaccination Campaign to Launch in May
Dr. Aina also revealed that a new polio vaccination campaign will kick off on May 3 in select northern states. The campaign is part of a synchronized regional effort led by Lake Chad Basin countries, aiming to vaccinate 83 million children against polio.
