The Yar Gaya Primary Healthcare Centre (PHC) in Kano State has finally undergone much-needed renovations, several months after a Nigeria Health Watch report highlighted the poor condition of the facility in April 2022.
The renovation was made possible by the Basic Health Care Provision Fund (BHCPF) which began in June 2022. The officer-in-charge (OIC) of the facility, Bilkisu Ismail, confirmed that the renovation is still ongoing at the outpatient department (OPD) and the pharmacy. “The renovation is from the federal government’s basic health care provision fund, it started from June last year,” she said, adding that they bought tables, chairs, bed screens, and blood pressure apparatus to improve service delivery at the facility.
Residents and patients shared some positive feedback on the renovations. Suraiyah Bilyamin, an expectant mother, expressed her satisfaction with the new antenatal care (ANC) section for women and the provision of a separate restroom. She was particularly pleased about the new restroom as, in the past, male and female patients shared one which made them feel uncomfortable “But we now have our separate corner, and every other thing is now separate for us from other patients,” Bilyamin added.
Halima Hudu, a resident of the community, also expressed her gratitude for the renovations, saying that the facility’s environment is now better maintained. “When a patient visits, they can now sit comfortably without finding the environment disgusting or fear of contracting a disease,” she said.
The renovation of Yar Gaya PHC is a significant step towards improving healthcare access in Nigeria. PHCs like Yar Gaya play a critical role in providing basic healthcare services to communities. However, sustained investment is needed to improve access to healthcare at the grassroots level. Nigeria Health Watch remains committed to highlighting facilities in need of urgent intervention through our weekly community health watch stories.