16 Months Of Purposeful Leadership As NSPHCDA Wins $500,000 Bill-Gate And Dangote Foundation Award

Rabiu Omaku,

Is a thing of joy for the Nasarawa State Government, especially the  Nasarawa State Primary Health Care Development Agency  (NSPHCDA)  under the leadership of  Dr.Usman Eskilu Sale, as the state won a prize money to the tune of $500,000, which, when converted to Naira, is equivalent to N750,000 million.

The Executive Secretary of the agency, Dr. Eskilu Saleh confirmed to this platform that the organizers of this lofty award comprises of Bill-Gate and Dangote Foundation meant to add value to the health sector at the State level, the Executive Secretary of the Nasarawa State Primary Health Care Development Agency commended the State Governor, Engineer Abdullahi Sule for his desire commitment and determination to take the health sector of the people to the next level.

He, however, said Nasarawa State has over 700 Primary Health Care centers across every electoral ward of Nasarawa State, adding that the total number is 1051. He said we have Human Resources as the yardstick to qualify us as the winning State in 2025.

Dr.Eskilu confirmed that Kwara State won the same award in 2024 in the North Central States of the Federation, stating that the award is the highest in the health sector.

“It takes courage, commitment, and determination to get to where we have gone. I have to go through the office of the Secretary to the State Government (SSG) and the State Executive Council to convince His Excellency to give a vivid explanation on why Nasarawa State must participate in the award, he added.

“There are some indicators for a State to participate. Indicators are one, and there should be a quarterly meeting of the NSPHCDA.

I also stepped it down to the Local Government level, where Kokona Local Government won the first award.

“The State Governor, Engineer Abdullahi Sule, is representing us well in Primary Health Care. I would remember a time that I invited him to one Primary Health Care at Akwanga along Wamba road, as he visited the facility, he swiftly procured sophisticated equipment to the clinic, which I can tell you is presently at our store.

The Executive Secretary of the Nasarawa State Primary Health Care Development Agency, Dr.Usman Eskilu Sale was appointed by Engineer Abdullahi Sule in October 2024; he has so far spent fifteen months at the headship of the Agency.

He further told Universal Reporters that Nasarawa State is leading as the first State of the Federation in terms of HPV update, he opined that Nasarawa State ranks 179 on HPV vaccination, followed by Taraba, kaduna and lastly Anambra State.

Nasarawa State is now being offered as part of routine immunization to eligible girls aged nine years old. Every girl who receives the vaccine today prevents a future tragedy that we never have to count.

He explained that the documents track coverage at the national level, with three States yet to reach the 2025 target. He averred that the report has been generated using data submitted on DHIS2, adding that the Measles-Rubella stands at 31,554.680, with an MR vaccinated at 1,360.868

MR coverage of 103 percent and polio in 1,242,275, with Jigawa State coming at 203 percent.

Dr. Usman Eskilu Sale’s one year in office as the Executive Secretary of the Nasarawa State Primary Healthcare Development Agency (NAPHDA),) can be described as full of commitment and a resounding success.

The executive Governor’s relentless effort also counts in the sands of time; the achievements are numerous in terms of the employment of personnel who make every organization more effective.

The Executive Governor of Nasarawa State, Engineer Abdullahi Sule, has put in all machinery in place to make work easier,

In an interview with the Correspondents’ Chapel of the Nigerian Union of Journalists, Dr. Sale highlighted the significant progress made in various aspects of primary healthcare delivery throughout the State. He emphasized the importance of making healthcare accessible and affordable at the grassroots level, as primary healthcare serves as the first point of contact for community members seeking medical services.

Dr. Iskilu enumerated several accomplishments under his headship, his tenure. Some of the ³achievements is an increase in patient patronage, driven by the enhanced quality and efficiency of services provided at the State’s Primary healthcare centers (PHCs).

Revitalization of Primary Healthcare Centers

Dr. Sale reported substantial progress in the ongoing revitalization of 58 PHCs across Nasarawa State. Most of these facilities have been completed, with the remaining ones expected to be finalized by November.

He expressed optimism that by the end of 2027, every ward out of the 147 electoral wards in the State would have a revitalized PHC.

Expansion of Functional Facilities

The  State has recently bolstered its healthcare infrastructure, boasting 82 functional facilities. This includes nine PHCs constructed by the State Government, six built under the National Primary Healthcare Development Agency’s constituency projects, and an additional nine funded by UNICEF.

Employment of Additional Personnel

Significant focus of Dr. Sale’s administration has been on manpower development; a chunk of personnel were employed to close the gap of staff deficit in the Agency