Kwara State Executive Council applauds governor for healthcare, social protection initiatives
By Mosunmola Ayobami, Ilorin
The Kwara State Executive Council received extensive updates on the primary healthcare system’s progress and challenges, alongside the government’s recent social protection initiatives. These briefings underscored the administration’s commitment to advancing healthcare access and community support across the state.
Dr. Nusirat Elelu, Executive Secretary of the Primary Health Care Development Agency, outlined notable improvements achieved under Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq’s leadership.
While addressing issues such as infrastructure deficits, staffing shortages, and limited resources, Dr. Elelu commended the administration’s efforts to close these gaps. She cited the recent recruitment drive and the approval of a new minimum wage as positive steps forward.
“Significant strides have been made,” Dr. Elelu stated. “Thirty-one primary healthcare centers (PHCs) have been fully renovated, with others at various renovation stages. There is now at least one functional PHC in each of the state’s 193 wards, addressing a previous shortage where seven wards lacked PHCs entirely.”
Further enhancements include the ongoing renovation of five PHCs funded by the PHC Leadership Challenge Award and 111 additional renovations under the Basic Health Care Provision Fund (BHCPF) and the World Bank PHC Revitalization Programme.
In addition, the state has bolstered its cold chain capacity with solarization of 16 LGA central cold stores to improve vaccination logistics, drilled 79 boreholes, and acquired 79 outreach vans, 89 motorcycles, and 16 ambulances to reach underserved areas more effectively.
As a result of these interventions, Kwara State now boasts one of Nigeria’s highest antenatal care coverage rates. Dr. Elelu noted that the number of pregnant women attending antenatal care surged from 94,276 in 2020 to 620,925 in 2023.
Deliveries in PHCs have also increased by over 220%, signifying heightened public confidence in the state’s health system. Other successes include a reduction in severe anemia cases among pregnant women and a standout performance in immunization campaigns, with over 1.5 million children vaccinated per round.
SSA on Community Development Dr. Lawal Olohungbebe highlighted the administration’s efforts to mobilize community-based organizations (CBOs) for grassroots development.
Since January 2024, initiatives have included installing 60 solar-powered lights, distributing essential supplies, and providing billions of naira in social protection materials, such as rice palliatives, fertilizer, maize, and sorghum. Additional programs included constructing smart toilets, drilling boreholes, and issuing grants to 498 communities statewide.
The recent CBO Summit united over 900 organizations to share best practices in grassroots development, and the KWATRECO initiative has trained young people to maintain public facilities independently, reducing the burden on the government.
Dr. Olohungbebe recommended new initiatives, such as a legal framework for CBOs, a special economic scheme for persons with disabilities, a rural infrastructure maintenance scheme, and an “Every Ward Matters” program to expand support.
In response, Governor AbdulRazaq commended the presentations and directed council members to submit additional proposals for advancing governance and citizen engagement.
He reaffirmed his administration’s dedication to enhancing infrastructure and human resources in basic healthcare and education, acknowledging that state-level efforts have filled gaps traditionally underfunded by local councils.