The Aig-Imoukhuede Foundation, a philanthropic organisation committed to increasing access to primary healthcare across Africa, in partnership with the Private Sector Health Alliance of Nigeria (PSHAN), and Edo State Primary Healthcare Development Agency (EdoSPHCDA), has successfully revitalised four Primary Healthcare Centers (PHCs) in Edo State.
The newly renovated facilities – Atoruru PHC, Uteh PHC, Evubodia PHC and Idunmwunvgha PHC, all located in Owan West, Ikpoba Okha, Oredo, and Uhunmwode Local Government Areas of the State, respectively, were equipped with modern facilities and essential medical supplies, ensuring access to high-quality healthcare services for the residents of the communities.
The project was part of the Foundation’s broader commitment to revitalise 23 primary healthcare centres across Nigeria under the Adopt-A-Healthcare-Facility Programme (ADHFP).
WHO South-South zonal coordinator, Dr. Olufunmilola Kolude, at the event, commended the level of results-driven development, adding that the WHO will continue to deploy expertise to ensure compliance with basic healthcare standards and promote the sustainability of quality healthcare services. Kolude urged other institutions to follow the example set by the Aig-Imoukhuede Foundation by directing investments into primary healthcare.
Co-founder and executive vice chair of the Aig-Imoukhuede Foundation, Mrs. Ofovwe Aig-Imoukhuede, expressed her satisfaction with the project’s success, adding that, “We are delighted to see these revitalised PHCs open their doors to the community. This is a testament to our commitment to improving quality primary healthcare access and ensuring that every Nigerian has the opportunity to live a healthy life.”
MD/CEO of the Private Sector Health Alliance of Nigeria (PSHAN), Dr. Tinuola Akinbolagbe, emphasised the importance of community ownership in healthcare initiatives, even as she harped that, “The ADHFP leverages existing infrastructures and takes a community-centric approach, ensuring that the PHCs are truly owned and managed by the communities they serve.”
The modernisation of the four facilities with new equipment and infrastructure is expected to make a significant impact on the communities they serve. Improved access to healthcare will become a reality for residents in the affected areas, reducing the need for long-distance travel for medical attention. Additionally, these revitalized primary healthcare centres will play a crucial role in strengthening Nigeria’s overall healthcare infrastructure by easing the pressure on secondary and tertiary hospitals, allowing them to focus on more complex medical cases.
The Aig-Imoukhuede Foundation called on all well-meaning Nigerians to join the ADHFP and support the revitalisation of more PHCs across Nigeria by adopting a primary healthcare centre in their community, saying together, all and sundry can build a healthier and more equitable future for all.
