Major Healthcare Push: World Bank and Edo Revitalize 61 PHCs
Edo State, in partnership with the World Bank, has revitalized 61 Primary Healthcare Centres and expanded access to quality services through the IMPACT Project. This initiative has significantly transformed healthcare delivery, improving maternal and child health outcomes, and strengthening the state's primary healthcare system. It includes facility upgrades, expanded immunization, free malaria treatment, and the deployment of Skilled Birth Attendants.
The Edo State Government, in collaboration with the World Bank, has spearheaded a significant transformation in its primary healthcare sector through the Immunization Plus and Malaria Progress by Accelerating Coverage and Transforming Services (IMPACT) Project. This vital initiative has led to the revitalization of 61 Primary Healthcare Centres (PHCs) across the state, thereby expanding access to comprehensive and quality healthcare services for its citizens.
Dr. Cyril Adams Oshiomhole, the State Commissioner for Health, highlighted the profound impact of this intervention, noting its role in driving major improvements in primary healthcare delivery. These gains are evident in enhanced infrastructure, broadened service coverage, and improved healthcare access, particularly benefiting women, children, and underserved communities. Implemented under the administration of Governor Monday Okpebholo, the project is systematically strengthening Edo State’s primary healthcare system by upgrading facilities, expanding immunization services, and elevating maternal and child healthcare delivery.
The 61 revitalized PHCs are strategically distributed across all three senatorial districts of Edo State, ensuring equitable access. Specifically, 21 PHCs are in Edo South, 20 in Edo Central, and another 20 in Edo North Senatorial Districts. Each of these centres has been meticulously equipped with essential medical equipment and boasts upgraded infrastructure, which not only improves service delivery but also creates better working conditions for healthcare professionals. Commissioner Oshiomhole lauded the visible transformation in primary healthcare, emphasizing the significant improvements in maternal health services and the expanded reach of immunization outreach. He expressed profound gratitude to Governor Monday Okpebholo for his unwavering commitment to the project's success and to the World Bank for its invaluable support, which collectively is helping to close long-standing gaps in healthcare access.
Beyond the core revitalization, 146 healthcare facilities throughout the state are also benefiting from complementary interventions under the IMPACT programme. These include the consistent supply of essential drugs, medical commodities, vital immunization outreach services, and minor facility upgrades. Dr. Oshiomhole noted that these interventions have been crucial in reducing stock-outs of essential medicines and ensuring the consistent availability of healthcare supplies across all supported facilities. The state’s unwavering focus remains on guaranteeing that every Edo resident, irrespective of their location, has access to safe, affordable, and reliable healthcare services.
Further elaborating on the project's operational strengths, Dr. Coulson Oahimire Osoikhia, the Executive Secretary of the Edo State Primary Health Care Development Agency (EDSPHCDA), stated that the IMPACT Project has significantly bolstered the operational capacity of the state’s primary healthcare system. He revealed the procurement of over 200 laptops and tablets under the initiative, alongside extensive training for monitoring and evaluation officers, which has substantially improved data management and reporting systems. Crucially, malaria testing and treatment are now provided free of charge in all 146 IMPACT-supported facilities, complemented by comprehensive training for healthcare workers to enhance overall service delivery.
A notable achievement highlighted by Dr. Osoikhia is the significant improvement in maternal and newborn health outcomes, attributed to the deployment of 192 Skilled Birth Attendants (SBAs). This intervention has led to an impressive increase of more than 100 per cent in facility-based deliveries since the project became fully operational in 2024, underscoring its tangible impact on public health indicators.
Dr. Osayomore Idemudia, the Project Manager, emphasized that the implementation of the IMPACT programme remains deeply community-driven and steadfastly focused on achieving measurable results. He reiterated that beyond the vital infrastructure and equipment upgrades, the project’s core priorities include accountability, achieving improved health outcomes, and ensuring the long-term sustainability of the gains realized under the programme.
The World Bank-supported IMPACT initiative is poised to continue strengthening healthcare delivery systems in Edo State, playing a pivotal role in improving disease prevention strategies and actively supporting the government’s ambitious drive toward achieving universal health coverage for all its citizens.