By Alfred Akwe
The Executive Secretary of the Nasarawa State Primary Healthcare Development Agency (NAPHDA), Dr. Usman Iskilu Saleh, has declared his first year in office as a season of remarkable transformation in the state’s healthcare system.
At an interactive session with journalists, Dr. Saleh described his one-year journey as eventful, crediting his success to the enabling environment provided by Governor Abdullahi Sule. According to him, the administration’s commitment to healthcare has significantly boosted primary healthcare delivery across the state.
Highlighting his achievements, Dr. Saleh revealed that 58 Primary Healthcare Centres (PHCs) have been revitalized under his watch, with most already completed while the remaining will be delivered by November 2025. He gave the assurance that by 2027, every one of Nasarawa’s 147 electoral wards will host at least one revitalized PHC.
Currently, the state boasts 83 functional healthcare facilities, made up of nine built by the state government, six provided through constituency projects of the National Primary Healthcare Development Agency (NPHCDA), and nine others supported by UNICEF.
On manpower development, Dr. Saleh announced that 1,586 healthcare workers were employed between 2023 and 2024, with an additional 681 recruited this year. He explained that the recruitment process prioritized long-serving volunteers, some of whom had dedicated over 15 years without permanent appointment, thereby rewarding their resilience and commitment.
He further disclosed that, through the support of Governor Sule, the Federal Government, and the World Bank, the state procured healthcare equipment valued at nearly ₦1 billion. This investment, he stressed, has significantly improved access to healthcare, particularly in rural communities where quality service delivery was once a challenge.
In addition, Dr. Saleh introduced innovative initiatives such as the Leadership Challenge Award, designed to motivate Local Government Areas (LGAs) to raise the bar in primary healthcare service delivery. He noted that this has already begun to instill healthy competition among local councils.
The Executive Secretary also shared that following his presentation of critical issues to the State Executive Council, he secured approval for quarterly gubernatorial visits to PHCs for performance monitoring. This, he said, will further enhance accountability and ensure that facilities remain functional and effective.
Dr. Saleh expressed deep gratitude to Governor Abdullahi Sule for the opportunity to serve and reaffirmed his commitment to sustaining the momentum. He pledged to continue working toward affordable, accessible, and improved healthcare services, especially at the grassroots level where the need is most urgent. Visit www.krestnews.com for more reports and updates