World Bank Unlocks Major Healthcare Revolution in Edo State with PHC Revitalization
Edo State, in collaboration with the World Bank, has revitalized 61 Primary Healthcare Centres and expanded access to quality services under the IMPACT Project. This initiative has significantly improved maternal and child health outcomes, enhanced immunization, and provided free malaria treatment across 146 facilities, strengthening the state's healthcare system.
The Edo State Government, in a strategic partnership with the World Bank, has achieved a significant milestone in its healthcare development agenda by revitalizing 61 Primary Healthcare Centres (PHCs) across the state. This expansive initiative, executed under the Immunization Plus and Malaria Progress by Accelerating Coverage and Transforming Services (IMPACT) Project, aims to substantially broaden access to high-quality healthcare services for residents.
Dr. Cyril Adams Oshiomhole, the State Commissioner for Health, highlighted that the IMPACT Project is a catalyst for major transformation in primary healthcare delivery throughout Edo State. He underscored the profound gains realized in critical areas such as infrastructure development, enhanced service coverage, and improved healthcare accessibility, particularly benefiting women, children, and historically underserved communities. The project, diligently implemented under the administration of Governor Monday Okpebholo, is systematically fortifying the state’s primary healthcare framework. This includes upgrading existing facilities, significantly expanding immunization services, and elevating the standard of maternal and child healthcare delivery across the board. The 61 revitalized PHCs are strategically distributed across Edo State’s three senatorial districts, each now equipped with essential medical equipment and modernized infrastructure designed to optimize service delivery and enhance working conditions for dedicated health workers.
"Edo State is experiencing a tangible transformation in its primary healthcare landscape through the IMPACT Project. With 61 health facilities revitalized, we have witnessed notable improvements in maternal health services and a substantial expansion of immunization outreach," Dr. Oshiomhole affirmed. He further elaborated on the program's success in progressively bridging long-standing disparities in healthcare access. The Commissioner expressed gratitude to Governor Monday Okpebholo for his unwavering commitment to the project's success and acknowledged the invaluable support provided by the World Bank. Beyond the core revitalization efforts, an additional 146 healthcare facilities across the state are also benefiting from a suite of complementary interventions under the IMPACT programme. These include the consistent supply of essential drugs, vital medical commodities, expanded immunization outreach services, and necessary minor facility upgrades. Such interventions have proven instrumental in reducing critical stock-outs of essential medicines and ensuring the reliable availability of healthcare supplies across all supported facilities.
Dr. Coulson Oahimire Osoikhia, Executive Secretary of the Edo State Primary Health Care Development Agency (EDSPHCDA), emphasized that the project has profoundly strengthened the operational capacity of the state’s primary healthcare system. As part of this capacity building, over 200 laptops and tablets have been procured to enhance digital capabilities, and monitoring and evaluation officers have received specialized training to refine data management and reporting systems. A significant achievement noted by Dr. Osoikhia is the provision of free malaria testing and treatment in all 146 IMPACT-supported facilities. Furthermore, healthcare workers have undergone extensive training to elevate service delivery standards. The strategic deployment of 192 Skilled Birth Attendants (SBAs) has yielded remarkable improvements in maternal and newborn health outcomes, evidenced by an impressive increase of more than 100 percent in facility-based deliveries since the project commenced full operations in 2024.
Dr. Osayomore Idemudia, the Project Manager, reinforced that the implementation of the programme remains fundamentally community-driven and meticulously focused on achieving measurable results. He clarified the precise distribution of the 61 revitalized PHCs: 21 in Edo South, 20 in Edo Central, and 20 in Edo North Senatorial Districts. "The IMPACT Project’s implementation is centered on delivering tangible results at the community level. Beyond improvements in infrastructure and equipment, our core priorities encompass accountability, demonstrable improvements in health outcomes, and the sustainable preservation of the gains achieved through this program," Dr. Idemudia stated. This comprehensive World Bank-supported initiative is poised to further consolidate healthcare delivery systems within Edo State, significantly enhance disease prevention strategies, and robustly support the government’s overarching objective of achieving universal health coverage for all its citizens.