The Sokoto State government has earmarked N10 billion to renovate and refurbish 244 primary healthcare centres to improve healthcare services.
A budget analyst in the state’s Ministry of Budget and Economic Development, Bashir Ahmad Abubakar, stated this during the Sokoto Civil Society Organisations (CSOs’) quarterly meeting organised by USAID State2State.
Bashir said, “The government is acquiring a Toyota Hilux, which will monitor and supervise activities in the primary health centres.
“The renovation will cost over N6 billion, including fully installing solar-powered lights in all the primary healthcare centres.
“It was part of the supplementary budget prepared by the governor for onward transmission to the state house of assembly,” he said.
In his remarks, the local government manager of State2State in Sokoto, Abdullahi Shagari, commended the CSOs for their contributions and ways of handling state activities.
He said the meeting aimed to review government activities and get feedback from the public in the implementation of identified projects.
He said USAID State2State will support the state CSOs in activating the community development committee projects tracking template tools.
The chairman of the Coalition of NGOs in Sokoto State, Bello Shehu Gwadabawa, lauded USAID State2State for supporting the organisation, which he said has led to the success recorded so far.
“We identified some communities within the five pioneer local governments, chatted with the people of those communities and identified their needs from the government.
“Based on their needs, we submit a proposal to the government to be inserted into the budget for implementation,” he said.