Dr. Nusirat Elelu, the Executive Secretary of Kwara’s Health Care Development Agency, announced that the state has secured funding from the World Bank to upgrade infrastructure in at least one primary healthcare facility in each of the 193 wards. In a statement released on Sunday, Elelu revealed that the N887.8 million support is part of the Immunisation Plus and Malaria Progress by Accelerating Coverage and Transforming Services project, for which the government has contributed a counterpart fund.
Elelu credited the release of these funds to the consistent payment of counterpart funds by Kwara State Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq for various healthcare services. She mentioned that the governor would formally launch the program on Monday, during which cheques would be distributed to the benefiting primary healthcare centers (PHCs) across the state.
The statement emphasized the Kwara State Government’s commitment to achieving universal health coverage for its citizens and enhancing the primary healthcare system to meet the needs of all residents. Along with 13 other states, Kwara has secured a facility to strengthen its primary health care centers through the World Bank-assisted IMPACT project. This initiative involves a Decentralised Facility Financing (DFF) model, which will provide an initial investment fund to one primary healthcare center in each of the 193 geopolitical wards in Kwara State. The aim of this funding is to support the PHCs in reaching the standards of an ideal level two primary healthcare center, capable of delivering a basic minimum package of health services.
The utilization of these funds will be guided by a work plan developed collaboratively by the health facility staff and the Ward Development Committee, which must be approved by the Kwara State Primary HealthCare Development Agency. This plan will address essential needs within the health centers, including infrastructural upgrades, equipment, medications, consumables, clean water sources, and security, based on identified requirements.
Additionally, the DFF mechanism will ensure that operational funds are transferred quarterly to the 193 PHCs to support their daily operations. The administration of these quarterly operational funds will involve both the Ward Development Committee Chairmen and the officers in charge of the PHCs, promoting transparency and accountability. Oversight of the program will be provided jointly by the National Primary HealthCare Development Agency, the State Primary HealthCare Development Agency, the Local Government Area Health Authority, and the World Bank.
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