By Shafa’atu Suleiman, Sokoto
After years of neglect, primary healthcare centres across Sokoto State are undergoing major revitalization as the government pushes to make grassroots healthcare delivery more accessible, efficient, and sustainable.
Under the World Bank-supported IMPACT Project, which began in 2020, the Sokoto State Government is renovating primary healthcare centres (PHCs) in all 23 local government areas. Now in its final phase, the project targets the upgrade of 116 facilities, ensuring that each local government benefits from at least three to four improved health institutions, including PHCs, clinics, and health posts.
The State Commissioner for Health, Dr. Umar Faruk, said the upgrades go far beyond infrastructure, emphasizing the provision of solar-powered boreholes, water reticulation systems for maternity wards, improved sanitation, and other essential amenities. “The goal is functionality, not just a facelift,” he said.
He added that the revitalized centres would be staffed with more trained and committed personnel, restoring public confidence in the primary healthcare system.
“When individuals notice that the environment is conducive for accessing healthcare services, certainly they will come”
The Commissioner also revealed that the next phase of the project would focus on supplying essential drugs and medical equipment, ensuring that the upgraded facilities are not just functional but fully operational.
Highlighting the importance of transparency, Dr. Faruk said the current administration is enforcing strict accountability measures. “Each PHC must now provide a detailed breakdown of its expenditures;unlike before, when there was no transparency.”
During an inspection visit to newly renovated PHCs in Bunkari, Maikulki, and Inname, Dr. Faruk expressed satisfaction with the quality of work and urged contractors to maintain the momentum.
He called on local communities to take ownership of government projects to ensure their durability, adding that community involvement is key to sustaining the improvements.
To mitigate the effects of climate change and enhance the healing environment within PHC premises, the Commissioner introduced a tree-planting initiative. “With the rainy season approaching, now is the time to plant trees that will provide shade, improve air quality, and promote recovery,” he explained.
At Badau town, Dr. Faruk issued a three-day ultimatum to the officer in charge of the local PHC to clean up the facility’s premises, stressing that unhygienic conditions are unacceptable under his watch.
He reaffirmed the administration’s commitment to delivering quality healthcare at the rural level, aligning with Governor Ahmed Aliyu’s 9-point SMART agenda.
For many communities that have long depended on tertiary hospitals for minor ailments, the revitalization of PHCs could offer a more accessible and sustainable healthcare alternative.