The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) has handed over the renovated and expanded DISO Primary Healthcare Centre (PHC) in Gwale Local Government Area to the Kano State Primary Healthcare Management Board (SPHCMB), as part of efforts to strengthen health infrastructure and improve primary healthcare delivery in the state.
Speaking during the handover ceremony, UNICEF Chief of Field Office, Kano, Shafeeq Ur-Rehman, urged community leaders and residents to take ownership of the facility and ensure its proper maintenance and sustainability.
The DISO PHC is one of five healthcare facilities renovated under a Global Fund-supported programme implemented by UNICEF.
Ur-Rehman stressed that sustained community engagement was essential to preserving investments in healthcare and ensuring that the facilities continued to serve present and future generations.
He urged stakeholders to ensure proper maintenance of the infrastructure, adequate staffing with skilled health workers, regular availability of medicines, vaccines and other essential supplies, as well as continuous monitoring of service delivery.
The UNICEF official said stronger community ownership would contribute to improving the quality and sustainability of primary healthcare services.
He expressed appreciation for the partnership between UNICEF, the Kano State Government and the SPHCMB, noting that the project demonstrated what could be achieved when government, development partners and communities worked together towards a common goal.
Ur-Rehman also acknowledged the Global Fund for its continued investment in strengthening health infrastructure and service delivery.
The UNICEF Chief of Field Office reaffirmed the organisation’s commitment to supporting Kano State in strengthening its primary healthcare system and improving the health and well-being of children, women and families.
The renovated facility comprises an expanded delivery room, laboratory, consultation room, nurses’ station, male and female wards, as well as separate male and female toilets for persons with disabilities, among other improvements.
Also speaking, the Director-General of the SPHCMB, Prof. Salisu Ibrahim, represented by the Director of Administration, Adamu Fate, commended UNICEF for the intervention.
Fate said the renovation of DISO PHC and similar interventions in other parts of the state would contribute to improving the quality of primary healthcare delivery.
He expressed the Board’s appreciation to UNICEF and its partners for their continued support towards strengthening healthcare infrastructure and services across Kano State.
The Ward Head of DISO Ward, Ahmed Bello, also commended UNICEF and other partners for the intervention, assuring that the community would take responsibility for protecting and maintaining the facility.
He said community members would do everything possible to ensure that the renovated health centre remained functional and continued to provide quality healthcare services to residents.
KHADIJAH ALIYU
