By Kingsley Benson
The federal government has confirmed plans to upgrade 8,000 Primary Health Centres and expand immunisation programmes across the country under the 2024 – 2028 Medium-Term Framework.
The revelation came from Dr Iziaq Salako, Honourable Minister of State for Health, following a recent Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting chaired by President Bola Tinubu.
Dr Salako said that the framework places strong emphasis on social welfare and healthcare delivery, reinforcing the administration’s commitment to human capital development. He explained that ongoing upgrades to more than 4,000 PHCs will continue, while the new 8,000 facilities will be brought on stream to strengthen primary healthcare nationwide.
“The revitalised 4,000 PHCs and the additional 8,000 on stream can be sustained,” Dr. Salako said, noting that funding from the Basic Health Care Provision Fund will accelerate the process. He described the initiative as a step toward solidifying primary healthcare as the foundation of the country’s health system.
The minister also highlighted the government’s focus on immunisation programmes. He said funding from the Medium-Term Framework ensures continuity and expansion of initiatives introduced by the administration. Among these is the nationwide rollout of the HPV vaccine, which has reached over 40 million children.
Dr. Salako stated that the combined measles – rubella vaccine programme would expand next year, building on the success of the novel rollout that reached nearly 30 million children.
He stressed that these initiatives demonstrate the administration’s commitment to policies that directly improve citizens’ wellbeing. “It highlights Mr President’s commitment to social welfare, which touches the average Nigerian directly,” he said.
With these efforts, the government aims to strengthen primary healthcare delivery and immunisation coverage, ensuring more Nigerians benefit from improved access to essential health services.
