The Niger State Government has reaffirmed its commitment to quality healthcare delivery by intensifying monitoring of ongoing upgrades of Primary Healthcare Centres (PHCs) to Level II facilities across the state.
The Commissioner for Health, Dr Murtala Bagana, stated this during an inspection of selected PHCs and health facilities in Bosso Local Government Area, emphasising the government’s resolve to improve healthcare services statewide.
Bagana said the inspection was part of Gov. Umaru Bago’s New Niger Health Agenda, which aims to establish 100 functional Level II Primary Healthcare Centres across the state by the end of 2026.
He said the exercise was designed to ensure projects were executed according to approved specifications, deliver improved healthcare services, and guarantee value for money and accountability.
According to him, the upgraded facilities will offer round-the-clock healthcare services with modern infrastructure, including perimeter fencing, staff quarters, solar-powered boreholes, security posts, expanded wards and essential amenities.
The commissioner said more than 70 healthcare facilities were being upgraded through partnerships involving the state government, the Federal Government, the World Bank-supported IMPACT Project, Solina, and UNICEF across Niger State.
He said the facilities were strategically distributed across the state’s three senatorial districts to ensure equitable access to quality healthcare services.
“We are also making plans for adequate staffing and provision of equipment so that the facilities will become fully operational immediately after completion.
“Although there are security challenges in some areas, the government will only execute projects where the safety of personnel and public assets can be guaranteed,” he said.
Also speaking, Dr Inuwa Junaidu, Executive Director of the Niger State Primary Healthcare Development Agency, expressed satisfaction with the progress of work and commended communities for supporting the projects.
He said community engagement had helped resolve challenges, including land encroachment issues, thereby paving the way for smooth project implementation and timely completion.
Junaidu added that the upgraded facilities would replace overcrowded health centres and improve access to maternal and child healthcare, immunisation, family planning and treatment of common ailments statewide.
Similarly, the Director of Public Health, Dr Idris Ibrahim, said the state isolation centre would operate in accordance with World Health Organization infection prevention and control standards upon completion.
He said the centre would feature an in-house laboratory, pharmacy, secure perimeter fencing and a unidirectional movement system to protect healthcare workers and prevent cross-infection during outbreaks.
Ibrahim said the upgraded isolation centre would strengthen the state’s capacity to respond effectively to infectious disease emergencies.
Also, Umar Nasir, Chairman of the Niger State House of Assembly Committee on Health, commended the contractors for quality work and the ministry’s commitment to strengthening healthcare infrastructure.
He described the ongoing projects as a major milestone toward improving access to quality healthcare services across the state and advancing the government’s healthcare transformation agenda.
