Katsina: A healthy nation, the saying goes, is a wealthy nation. Primary Health Centres (PHCs) form the foundation of Nigeria’s healthcare structure. It is the closest to the people.
According to News Agency of Nigeria, Primary Health Centres (PHCs) are facilities that provide accessible health services to people at the grassroots. They are essential in addressing health challenges common at that level of society, such as malaria, and undertake immunisation and maternal and infant care. PHCs focus on people’s needs, provide care as early as possible, ensure equitable distribution of health services, contribute to preventing disease outbreaks, and ensure the highest possible level of health and well-being.
In Katsina State, the government recognises the importance of PHCs in meeting the people’s healthcare needs, hence the current efforts to reposition the system and make it more efficient. Gov. Dikko Radda underscored this during the 2025 Budget Presentation at the State House of Assembly when he declared healthcare as one of the critical sectors for his administration. Radda stated that the government aims to build the best healthcare sector in Nigeria, as outlined in the 2025 budget, titled ‘Building Your Future II.’ Implementing the 2024 budget allowed milestones in the target of having at least one comprehensive primary healthcare facility in each of the 361 wards in the state.
Katsina State currently boasts the highest number of primary, secondary, and tertiary health institutions in Nigeria, totaling 1,751, with over 85 percent functional. This was highlighted when Gov. Radda received the Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Prof. Muhammad Ali Pate, along with representatives from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, Aliko Dangote Foundation, and the National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA). Presently, the government has completed the refurbishment of 102 comprehensive health centers and has awarded contracts for another 158 PHCs, bringing the total to nearly 300.
By the end of this administration, the aim is to have 360 fully functional primary healthcare centres across the state, each equipped with staff quarters, ambulances, and essential medical equipment. To ensure these facilities operate efficiently, the government is deploying at least three community health workers per facility and implementing a three-shift system for 24-hour service delivery.
Already, the state government has expended N13.4 billion on the upgrading of 146 Primary Health Centres across the state, according to Deputy Governor Malam Faruk Lawal-Jobe. The Correspondents Chapel, Katsina State Council, Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) recently undertook a tour of Local Government Areas (LGAs) in the state for first-hand knowledge of developmental projects at the grassroots. During the visit, it was observed that the government had upgraded the said PHCs, with no fewer than three PHCs renovated in each of the 34 LGAs, while new ones were under construction in some cases.
The health facilities have been fenced and equipped with staff quarters, toilets, electricity, and boreholes to enhance sanitation and personal hygiene. These facilities provide 24-hour service to patients, including admission and childbirth, but refer critical cases to secondary and tertiary health institutions. They also serve people from neighbouring Niger Republic, especially those living in border communities such as Jibia, which faces after-effects of insecurity in Niger Republic.
Patients interviewed applauded the professionalism of the health workers, with many preferring Katsina State’s facilities for better treatment. Rabi Sani, a mother from Mairaga, Niger Republic, expressed gratitude for her child’s treatment. Similarly, Ma’u Haruna visited the Magama-Jibia Comprehensive Health Centre for her child’s fever, praising the non-discriminatory support provided.
Dahiru Magaji, Officer in Charge of the facility, noted the regular arrival of patients from Niger Republic seeking treatment for various health challenges. Mrs. Maryam Abdullahi from Muduri in Baure LGA applauded the government’s efforts in upgrading facilities, contributing to reducing child and maternal deaths and minimising risks associated with untrained traditional birth attendants.
Experts emphasise the importance of improving primary healthcare centres. Musa Abdullahi, a community health extension officer, highlighted PHCs’ role in cost-effective healthcare delivery and quick response during disease outbreaks. He urged governments to intensify efforts in improving access to primary healthcare services in rural communities, commending the attention given by state and local governments to primary healthcare development. Abdullahi also called for more manpower to manage health facilities effectively, citing the government’s success in recruiting teachers to address educational manpower shortages.