Fresh paint, old problems: Unfinished story of a Kaduna health centre

Nigeria has poured billions of naira into revamping primary healthcare centers nationwide, aiming to enhance service delivery, decrease maternal and child mortality, and bring essential medical care closer to communities. In Kaduna State, the Narayi Primary Health Care Centre exemplifies these efforts, with residents and health workers noting improvements in infrastructure, expanded services, increased staffing, and 24-hour operation.

Tina Julius, a mother of three-month-old twins, navigates muddy roads to reach the Narayi center. She recalls the past difficulties of long waits and inadequate care, contrasting it with the current facility that offers round-the-clock service. "We are grateful for the renovation. There is improved service delivery. There are more health workers. The renovation really helped," she told reporters. Her sentiment is echoed by Aisha Musa, a mother of four, who utilizes the center for immunizations and family planning.

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We are grateful for the renovation. There is improved service delivery. There are more health workers. The renovation really helped.

Despite these advancements, a stark contrast emerges outside the renovated buildings. An erosion channel widens nearby, and a stagnant, refuse-filled river emits an unpleasant odor that drifts into the hospital compound. This juxtaposition of improved internal facilities and external environmental and infrastructure problems raises concerns that these gains could be undermined if not addressed. "I want my children to come to a clean and safe hospital," Tina Julius stated. "A hospital should look clean and inviting."

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I want my children to come to a clean and safe hospital. A hospital should look clean and inviting.