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Kwara boosts primary healthcare service delivery with World Bank IMPACT project funds

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Joel Ajayi

Kwara State Primary Health Care Development Agency (KWSPHCDA) has given an update on the funds utilisation of the World Bank Immunisation Plus and Malaria Progress by Accelerating Coverage and Transforming Services (IMPACTS) Project.

This followed the disbursement of funds after the development of investment plans by each benefitting Primary Health Care (PHC) Center across the state, based on needs assessment carried out before commencement of the project.

Each benefitting PHC in the state received a total of N4.6m in the World Bank-assisted project to upgrade their facilities and purchase equipment that will strengthen basic healthcare services at the grassroots.

“We are excited to report that our PHCs have commenced the execution of the IMPACTS project with facility upgrades, purchase of equipment, and other items as spelt out in their various investment plan and needs assessment. Some of the items already purchased include: laboratory equipment in 193 PHCs; 30 ultrasound scan machines; 73 outreach tricycles; 186 outreach motorcycles; 186 desktop computers; and also 72 boreholes have been sunk” according to a press statement by the KWSPHCDA.

“Based on their investment plans approved by the World Bank, these PHCs would also begin some minor renovation to improve the PHCs to further meet basic minimum standards. The funds were sent directly to the accounts of each PHC. What the PHCs do with their funds vary and are based on their needs as captured in their investment plans”

The state had qualified for the World Bank IMPACTS programme on account of its investments in the basic healthcare sector, meeting some minimum criteria as well as payment of a state counterpart funds.

Kwara State, which had also recently won the National award as the state best in primary healthcare in the entire central Nigeria, continues to improve peoples’ confidence in the health system. This is evidenced by the total number of deliveries that doubled in 2023 compared to 2020, just as 422,631 women attended antenatal in our hospitals compared to 94,276 in the year 2020 based on the information from the DHIS2 platform.

The World Bank IMPACTS project would continue to be implemented alongside several State interventions as well as other projects like the Basic Health Care Provision Funds (BHCPF) to reduce infant, maternal mortality, and improve PHC services in the State.

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Court Orders Arrest Of Wike-led FCTA Director, 10 Others

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 By Aliyu Galadima 

An Abuja High Court has issued a bench warrant against the director of investigation and prosecution of the FCTA, Joseph Eriki, and 10 others.Justice Suleiman Belgore has issued an order to compel the director and others to appear before the court for a suit filed against them.

The Judge’s decision followed the application of the prosecuting counsel, David Kaswe, who lamented the failure of the efforts to ensure that the suspects appear in court.

Justice Suleiman Belgore of the High Court in Abuja has issued a warrant of arrest against Joseph Eriki, the director of investigation and prosecution of the Nyesom Wike-led Federal Capital Territory Administration ,FCTA, and 10 others. 

The judge had issued the order to compel the appearance of Joseph Eriki and 10 others before the court, as they had been arraigned in a suit filed against them by the federal government. 

The warrant was issued following an application by the prosecution counsel, David Kaswe, who stated that all efforts to ensure the suspects’ presence in court had failed. Kaswe informed the court that the prosecution had made several attempts to notify the suspects’ lawyers and sureties, but to no avail. 

He cited Section 124 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act ,ACJA, which allows for the issuance of a bench warrant to compel attendance in court.

The court agreed to the application, issuing the warrant to ensure the suspects’ appearance for arraignment on a six-count charge. The charges against the suspects include criminal conspiracy, criminal trespass, forgery, and using a forged document as genuine.

 They are also accused of using criminal force to deter a public servant from performing their duty. The suspects allegedly entered a plot of land belonging to Etha Ventures and constructed structures without authorisation, to defraud the company. 

According to the prosecution, the suspects fraudulently obtained a consent judgment for the land, which was given to Super Structures Limited. The case has been adjourned until June 4 for arraignment.

 The court’s decision to issue a bench warrant highlights the seriousness of the allegations and the need for the suspects to face trial. The suspects are facing a six-count charge, which was filed in February.

The court’s ruling emphasises the importance of a speedy trial and the need for the suspects to be held accountable for their actions.

 With the bench warrant in place, the court is taking steps to ensure that the suspects appear in court and face the charges against them

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