The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) has handed over eight revitalised Primary Healthcare Centres (PHCs) to the Adamawa State Government as part of efforts to strengthen primary healthcare delivery and improve access to quality health services at the grassroots.
The handover ceremony, held in Yola, brought together officials of the Adamawa State Ministry of Health and Human Services, the State Primary Health Care Development Agency (ADSPHCDA), UNICEF and representatives of the 21 local government areas.
The facilities were formally handed over by Dr Nuzhat Rafique of UNICEF’s D-Field Office in Bauchi to the Adamawa State Government.
Receiving the facilities on behalf of the state, the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Health and Human Services, Pharm. Zirra Mathias Bubanani, represented the Commissioner for Health and Human Services, Hon. Chubado Mohammed Jada.
Bubanani subsequently handed the facilities to the Executive Chairman of the ADSPHCDA, Dr Bashiru Suleiman Saidu, who transferred them to the Executive Secretary of the Fufore PHC Authority, Malam Bello Ibrahim, on behalf of the benefiting PHC authorities.
Speaking at the ceremony, Saidu commended UNICEF for its continued support towards strengthening primary healthcare services in Adamawa State.
He said the revitalisation of the eight facilities would improve their capacity to provide essential healthcare services, particularly to women, children and other vulnerable members of the communities.
Saidu urged the benefiting PHC authorities to take ownership of the facilities, ensure their proper maintenance and make effective use of the infrastructure and resources provided through the intervention.
Representing the Commissioner, Bubanani also commended UNICEF for the intervention, reaffirming the state government’s commitment to working with development partners to improve healthcare delivery across Adamawa.
He said the handover went beyond the transfer of physical infrastructure, stressing that it placed greater responsibility on the relevant health authorities to keep the facilities functional, accessible and responsive to the needs of their communities.
Giving an overview of the PHC Revitalisation Project, UNICEF specialist Dr Oluseyi Olusunde explained the objectives and key components of the intervention.
He stressed the importance of functional primary healthcare facilities in improving access to essential health services and advancing maternal, newborn and child health outcomes.
Olusunde also called for sustained collaboration among UNICEF, the state government and local health authorities to ensure that investments in primary healthcare translate into improved services and better health outcomes.
The Director of Planning, Research and Statistics, ADSPHCDA, Dr Poul Margwa, presented an overview of the status of the revitalised facilities, highlighting progress recorded under the intervention and the readiness of the eight PHCs to serve their communities.
Stakeholders at the ceremony reaffirmed their commitment to the effective utilisation, routine maintenance and sustainability of the revitalised facilities.
On his part, the Chairman of the Forum of Executive Secretaries appreciated UNICEF and the Adamawa State Government for their continued investment in primary healthcare development.
He also commended the Ministry of Health and Human Services and the ADSPHCDA for coordinating the intervention, assuring that the benefiting Local Government PHC Authorities would take responsibility for the proper management and maintenance of the facilities.
The handover further underscores the partnership between UNICEF and the Adamawa State Government in building a more functional, accessible and resilient primary healthcare system capable of bringing essential health services closer to residents.