The Gombe State Government, working with the World Bank through its IMPACT project, has repaired, upgraded, and handed over 103 Primary Health Centres (PHCs) to local communities across the state.
This project is meant to solve serious problems faced during childbirth and to improve poor healthcare, especially in rural areas.
The upgraded centres are located in all 11 Local Government Areas (LGAs) of Gombe State. They aim to reduce deaths of mothers and children by giving people better access to important healthcare services.
Officials said each of the health centres now meets level 2 standards. They include labour rooms, living quarters for staff, places for vaccinations, antenatal care services, solar-powered lights, boreholes for water, pharmacies, stocked medicines, and trained health workers.
At the official handover event, Dr. Onoriode Ezire from the World Bank, Gombe State’s Health Commissioner Dr. Habu Dahiru, and staff from the National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA) encouraged local people to take care of the new centres.
“These centres belong to you. Use them wisely to protect the lives of women and children,” Dr. Ezire said.
Some of the benefiting communities include Barwa Winde in Nafada, Jillahi in Funakaye, Doho in Kwami, Dangar in Yamaltu-Deba, and Gidan Magani in Gombe LGA.
People in these communities said they are happy and relieved. For years, they suffered due to poor healthcare and had to travel long distances for treatment. A local leader, Mr. Usman from Yamaltu-Deba, said, “Our women used to give birth at home or risk their lives going to far-away hospitals. This new centre will save lives.”
The Gombe State Government said this effort supports its health insurance programme (GoHealth) and is part of wider reforms to make healthcare cheaper and easier to get.
Officials also said the new centres will help increase vaccinations and treat malaria, which are key goals of the IMPACT project.
For some women, the difference is life-changing. Fatima Musa, a mother from Doho, said she had her last baby in a poorly equipped clinic using torchlight. Now, she feels safe going to the new health centre. “This time, I know my child and I are safe,” she said.
