NPHCDA renovates 3,526 PHCs, targets more functional centres

The National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA) has completed the renovation and commissioning of 3,526 primary healthcare facilities across Nigeria, with work ongoing at 908 centers. Dr Muyi Aina, the agency's CEO, disclosed this during a quarterly media briefing. Aina revealed that the agency has embarked on revitalising 4,434 primary healthcare facilities nationwide, with 53% of the approximately 27,000 primary healthcare centres being actively monitored currently functional at Level 1 or Level 2.

The goal is to have Level 2 facilities in every ward and an appropriate complement of about 8,900 Level 1 facilities. The agency is adopting an equity-based approach to revitalisation, prioritising access to basic amenities such as electricity, water, and sanitation. The renovated facilities are expected to have reliable electricity, water supplies, and sanitation facilities, including solar-powered boreholes to supplement public water supplies.

The agency is also promoting the use of a platform to identify the nearest healthcare facilities and enhance transparency and accountability in primary healthcare delivery. Additionally, the agency has retrained over 78,000 frontline health workers out of the 120,000 targeted by the Tinubu administration and is beginning the retraining of approximately 23,000 community-based health workers.