International Development Bank provides $46 million loan to bolster healthcare services in Sokoto
The African Development Bank (AfDB) has approved a $46 million loan for a comprehensive healthcare infrastructure project in Sokoto State, Nigeria. This initiative aims to address critical gaps in the region, including low vaccination rates, high infant mortality, and poor healthcare facility functionality.
In collaboration with UNICEF, WHO, USAID, and other development partners, the project will construct and equip a 1,000-bed teaching hospital complex, three zonal hospitals with a combined capacity of 450 beds, and six primary healthcare centers. These facilities will serve both urban and rural communities, providing much-needed access to quality healthcare services.
Sokoto State has long suffered from underfunding and poor infrastructure, leading to poor maternal and child health outcomes. Infant mortality in the region is at a staggering 104 deaths per 1,000 live births, nearly double the national average of 63. The project is expected to assist the state government in filling these critical infrastructure gaps in Nigeria's health system.
The project also focuses on building resilient, climate-adapted healthcare facilities. This is crucial in a region prone to climate challenges, ensuring the sustainability of the healthcare system in the long term.
In addition to the construction of new facilities, the project will rehabilitate health training institutions and develop a modern medical warehouse to strengthen pharmaceutical supply chains. This will not only improve the quality of healthcare services but also empower local healthcare professionals.
The Sokoto State Health Infrastructure Project aligns with Nigeria's National Development Plan (2021-2025) and the Health Sector Renewal Investment Initiative. It is the fifth in a series of interventions aimed at improving health outcomes across Nigeria, with the previous four projects totaling $117.68 million.
Abdul Kamara, the Director General of the AfDB's Nigeria Office, stated that the project aims to build hope and create pathways to better health outcomes for millions of Nigerians. The project is also expected to create thousands of gainful employment opportunities for the local population.
With this transformative investment, the AfDB is poised to significantly improve healthcare infrastructure and outcomes in Sokoto State, bridging critical health service gaps and strengthening the healthcare system in one of Nigeria’s most underserved states.
[1] African Development Bank. (2022). Sokoto State Health Infrastructure Project. Retrieved from https://www.afdb.org/en/news-and-events/article/2022/sokoto-state-health-infrastructure-project-148159
[4] African Development Bank. (2022). Sokoto State Health Infrastructure Project. Retrieved from https://www.afdb.org/en/news-and-events/article/2022/sokoto-state-health-infrastructure-project-148159
The Sokoto State Health Infrastructure Project, backed by the African Development Bank, will focus on constructing and equipping healthcare facilities such as a 1,000-bed teaching hospital, zonal hospitals, and primary healthcare centers. This initiative, aiming to improve health outcomes, will also strengthen medical supply chains and health training institutions, addressing critical medical-conditions and promoting health-and-wellness in the region.
