FG Flags off N23bn medical equipment, drug distribution to revitalise PHCs

The Federal Government on Friday flagged off the distribution of medical equipment and essential medicines worth more than N23 billion to all 36 states and the FCT.

This is part of ongoing efforts to revitalise Primary Health Care (PHC) under the Renewed Hope Agenda.

Prof. Muhammad Ali Pate, Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, announced the development on his official X account, after performing the flag-off at the Prose Warehouse, Idu Industrial Area, Abuja.

Pate said that the intervention was a promise kept under the leadership of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, aimed at repositioning PHC as the foundation of Nigeria’s health system and restoring public confidence in community-level facilities.

“For too long, PHCs were under-resourced, forcing mothers to travel long distances for delivery, children to miss vaccinations and communities to lose confidence. That is changing,” he said.

According to him, 500 priority facilities will be equipped with 56 types of essential equipment, including autoclaves, delivery beds, ultrasound machines and incubators.

He said that 80 categories of essential medicines such as antimicrobials, antimalarials, antihypertensives, insulin and family planning commodities would be distributed nationwide.

Pate said that the equipment, valued at more than nine billion Naira, and medicines worth over N14 billion, were funded through federal appropriations and donor support.

Highlighting progress in PHC revitalisation, he said that 1,295 PHCs had been refurbished in the past year, with 38 solar-powered to ensure reliable service delivery.

He said that 69,106 frontline health workers had been trained, with 60,000 provided uniforms and kits in partnership with the Renewed Hope Initiative of the First Lady, Sen. Oluremi Tinubu.

The minister said state governments were complementing federal efforts with staff recruitment.

“Kaduna has added 216 skilled birth attendants and 969 community health workers; Yobe has added 164 and 258 respectively while other states are advancing recruitment,” he said.

He cited progress under the MAMII Initiative, which has enrolled more than 411,000 pregnant women across 21 states, with 30,000 receiving antenatal care, 9,000 transport vouchers and 14,000 emergency obstetric interventions.

He said that the progress reflected the Sector-Wide Approach (SWAp) under which federal agencies, state governments and partners were working in alignment with the Compact signed with the president.

He acknowledged the support of partners like Gavi, the Global Fund, UNICEF, UNFPA, the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, and private sector contributors providing warehousing and logistics.

To ensure accountability, Pate said that every distributed item would be electronically tracked, with oversight by the Independent Corrupt Practices Commission (ICPC) and other relevant agencies.

According to him, this will ensure that resources reach intended beneficiaries.

The minister also announced that preparations were already underway for a nationwide Measles-Rubella vaccination campaign in October.

He said the campaign would reach more than 100 million children under 14 with vaccines and integrated interventions for nutrition and malaria.

“These efforts are clear evidence that the Renewed Hope Agenda is real and that Nigeria’s health system is regaining the trust of its people,” he said.