World Bank Hails Ogun’s Human Capital Drive Through Health Sector Reforms
The World Bank has commended the Ogun State Government for prioritising primary healthcare development, describing the effort as essential to strengthening human capital and safeguarding the state’s long-term growth.
The praise came from the World Bank Vice President for Operations Policy and Country Services, Galina Vincelette, during a visit on Thursday to the Makun Primary Healthcare Centre in Sagamu Local Government Area.
The facility is among 75 PHCs upgraded in Ogun State under the World Bank-supported IMPACT project.
Vincelette said the Makun centre symbolises more than physical infrastructure, noting that sustained investment in grassroots healthcare remains central to building a resilient health system. She described strong primary healthcare services as the foundation of effective medical delivery and praised the facility’s infrastructure and staff welfare provisions.
According to her, investments in healthcare extend beyond immediate medical outcomes, adding that initiatives such as child immunisation, maternal care and improved working conditions for health personnel contribute significantly to Nigeria’s future development. She also highlighted the presence of clean water, functional sanitation and staff accommodation as critical elements that support continuous service delivery.
Earlier, Ogun State Commissioner for Health, Dr Tomi Coker, disclosed that the government has equipped PHCs across the state with solar power systems to ensure uninterrupted 24-hour operations. She said the intervention would enhance routine immunisation services and improve child healthcare delivery, identifying the Makun facility as one of the beneficiaries.
Coker further revealed that aside from the 75 PHCs upgraded under the IMPACT programme, an additional 236 flagship health facilities in the state have received financial and operational backing to provide integrated immunisation services every two weeks within their communities. She added that these centres now offer malaria testing, child health services and essential medications, even in locations where such services were not originally part of the project framework.
She explained that each of the IMPACT-supported PHCs received a 7.5kVA solar energy system to guarantee sustained round-the-clock service delivery. She also stressed that community involvement was deliberately incorporated into the project through Ward Development Committees to ensure long-term sustainability.
The Executive Secretary of the Ogun State Primary Health Care Board, Dr Elijah Ogunsola, credited Governor Dapo Abiodun’s leadership for creating an enabling environment for the project’s success.
Also speaking, IMPACT Project Manager, Kofoworola Olajide, described the initiative as a major milestone in Ogun State’s healthcare advancement. She said the project not only upgraded infrastructure but also supplied medical equipment and provided decentralised funding to support PHC activities, improve service efficiency and encourage greater community utilisation of healthcare services.
