From Tuesday, February 18, to Saturday, February 22, 2025, the newly appointed Executive Secretary, Edo State Primary Health Care Development Agency (EDSPHCDA), Dr. Coulson Osoikhai Oahimire, embarked on a supervisory visit to several primary healthcare centers across Edo State.
The visit focused on assessing primary health centers selected for upgrades under the Immunization Plus and Malaria Progress by Accelerating Coverage and Transforming Services (IMPACT) project, a World Bank-funded initiative in collaboration with the Edo State Government. The project aims to renovate and upgrade healthcare facilities to improve service delivery and reduce maternal and child mortality rates.
Accompanied by his Technical Adviser, Dr. Gideon Iraoyah, Dr. Oahimire inspected Iwogban PHC, Amufi PHC, and Oregbeni PHC all in Benin City urging the healthcare workers to remain dedicated to providing quality care to their communities. He reaffirmed the commitment of His Excellency, the Executive Governor of Edo State Mr. Monday Okphebholo to strengthening primary healthcare in the state and ensuring that every resident has access to essential quality medical services.
As part of his tour, Dr. Oahimire also visited Opoji Primary Healthcare Center in Esan Central, where he assessed the facility’s condition and identified areas requiring intervention. During his visit, he joined a vaccination team at Opoji in Esan Central Local Government, supervising the ongoing Big Catch-Up vaccination exercise. He reviewed records, ensured the team followed proper protocols, and personally completed the Open Data Kit (ODK) data entry after the supervision.
The Executive Secretary and his team then proceeded to Idumabi, a settlement in Irrua, Esan Central, where they were warmly received by the community’s leader, Chief Ohons.
Speaking with the Chief, Dr. Oahimire expressed gratitude for the warm welcome and reiterated the Governor’s commitment to improving healthcare services for the people of Edo State. He emphasized that his visit was crucial in assessing the state of primary healthcare facilities, identifying challenges, and ensuring that the World Bank-funded upgrades will be implemented effectively.
In response, Chief Ohons commended the Executive Secretary for honouring the call to serve Edo people, and praised the Governor, His Excellency Governor Monday Okphebholo’ for prioritizing healthcare development. He urged the Government to continue its efforts and not relent in its mission to improve the health and well-being of Edo people.