The Zamfara government has expressed delight for winning $500,000 for emerging best in Primary Healthcare Leadership Challenge in North-West zone.

This was announced in a statement by the governor’s spokesperson, Sulaiman Idris, on Saturday.

It said Zamfara was announced as the winner of the PHC Leadership Challenge during an award night held at the Bola Ahmed Tinubu International Conference Centre.

According to the statement, in 2022, the Nigerian Governors Forum launched the Primary Health Care Leadership Challenge, pledging to build a health system that delivers quality care regardless of geography or circumstance.

“Zamfara emerged as the best performing state in dealing with the Primary Health Care Challenge among North-Western states.

“The award, presented to Governor Dauda Lawal was a joint project of the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund, the Dangote Foundation, and the National Primary Healthcare Development Agency.

“This clearly demonstrates that Gov. Lawal’s declaration of state of emergency on the Zamfara health sector has yielded the intended outcomes,” it stated.

According to the statement, the PHC Leadership Challenge Fund intends to promote sustainable healthcare financing and motivates Nigeria’s 36 states to compete in enhancing primary healthcare services.

“Zamfara and other leading states from North-East, North-Central, South-East, South-South, and South-West shared a total of $6.1 million through the third edition of the Primary Health Care Leadership Challenge Awards,” it added. 

(NAN)