Nigeria: African Development Bank Approves $46 Million to Transform Healthcare in Sokoto State
The project addresses critical health system gaps in Sokoto, where key indicators reflect a critical need for intervention. Only one in 20 children is fully vaccinated, while infant mortality stands at 104 deaths per 1,000 live births, nearly double Nigeria's national average of 63. Less than 14 percent of health facilities in the state have functional infrastructure, and there is just one doctor for every 8,285 people -- far below the World Health Organization's recommended ratio of 1:1,000.
The Bank's financing will support the delivery of climate-smart health infrastructure across three levels of care. These include the construction and equipping of a 1,000-bed teaching hospital complex; three zonal hospitals with a combined capacity of 450 beds; and six primary healthcare canters strategically located to serve rural communities.
The project also includes the rehabilitation of health training institutions and the development of a modern medical warehouse to strengthen pharmaceutical supply chains.
"This investment illustrates our commitment to continue working with the Government to fill critical infrastructure gaps in Nigeria's health system while building resilient, climate-adapted healthcare facilities," said Abdul Kamara, Director General of the African Development Bank's Nigeria Office. "By strengthening healthcare infrastructure in Sokoto State, we are building hope and creating pathways to better health outcomes for millions of Nigerians."
Aligned with Nigeria's National Development Plan (2021-2025) and the Health Sector Renewal Investment Initiative, the project is expected to generate approximately 2,500 jobs, with 60 percent of opportunities targeting youth and 30 percent women. In addition, the project will integrate electronic health infrastructure and renewable energy systems, ensuring sustainable, energy-efficient operations while reducing greenhouse gas emissions. Expanded capacity in local the medical and nursing schools will create 700 new training slots annually, helping to address the region's acute shortage of skilled health professionals.
The initiative builds on the Bank's successful track record in Nigeria's health sector, where it has financed four health infrastructure projects totaling $117.68 million. It will leverage strategic partnerships with the United Nations Children's Fund, the World Health Organization, USAID, and other development actors to maximize impact and ensure comprehensive health system strengthening.
The African Development Bank Group remains committed to enhancing the quality of life for Africa's people through targeted investments in resilient health infrastructure that drive inclusive growth and sustainable development across the continent.
Distributed by APO Group on behalf of African Development Bank Group (AfDB).
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Mrs. MONICA CHAKWERA; The First Lady of the Republic of Zimbabwe, H.E. Amai Dr. AUXILLIA MNANGAGWA: PRINT CATEGORY WINNERS Precious Kumbani, The Nation, Malawi (First Position) Gresham Ngwira, Freelancer, Malawi (Second Position) Simon Muntemba, Daily Nation, Zambia (Second Position) Charlotte Nambadja, The Namibian, Namibia (Third Position) Silence Mugadzaweta, The Standard, Zimbabwe (Third Position) ONLINE CATEGORY WINNERS Alain Kabinda, Daily News Agency, Zambia (First Position) Catherine Murombedzi, Freelancer, Zimbabwe (First Position) Alick Ponje, The Times, Malawi (second Position) Wallace Mawire, Pan African Visions, Zimbabwe (Second Position) Hamu Madzedze, 365 Health Diaries, Zimbabwe (Third Position) Kundai Michael Magoronga, Chronicle, Zimbabwe (Third Position) Mlondi Mkhize, Briefly News, South Africa (Third Position) RADIO CATEGORY WINNERS Glendah Fadzai Takachicha, Capitalk FM, Zimbabwe (First Position) Tina Nyirenda, Smooth FM, Zambia (Second Position) Sylviah Chisi, Trans World Radio, Malawi (Second Position) Nyasha Mandimutsira, Capitalk FM, Zimbabwe (Third Position) Perina N. 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Merck Foundation Africa Media Recognition 'More Than a Mother' Awards 2025 Theme for the awards: Breaking Infertility Stigma, Supporting Girl Education, Women Empowerment, Ending Child Marriage, Ending FGM, and/or Stopping GBV at all levels. Who can apply: Journalists from Print, Radio, Online, and Multimedia platforms from the following groups: Southern African Countries West African Countries East African Countries French Speaking African Countries Portuguese Speaking African Countries Submission deadline: 30th September 2025. 2. Merck Foundation Media Recognition 'Diabetes&Hypertension' Awards 2025 Theme for the awards: Promoting a healthy lifestyle and raising awareness about prevention and early detection of Diabetes and Hypertension. Who can apply: Journalists from Print, Radio, Online, and Multimedia platforms from the following groups: Southern African Countries West African Countries East African Countries French Speaking African Countries Portuguese Speaking African Countries Latin American Countries Asian Countries Submission deadline: 30th October 2025. All entries are to be submitted to submit@ Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Merck Foundation. Join the conversation on our social media platforms below and let your voice be heard! Facebook: X: YouTube: Instagram: Threads: Flickr: Website: About Merck Foundation: The Merck Foundation, established in 2017, is the philanthropic arm of Merck KGaA Germany, aims to improve the health and wellbeing of people and advance their lives through science and technology. Our efforts are primarily focused on improving access to quality&equitable healthcare solutions in underserved communities, building healthcare&scientific research capacity, empowering girls in education and empowering people in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) with a special focus on women and youth. All Merck Foundation press releases are distributed by e-mail at the same time they become available on the Merck Foundation Website. Please visit to read more. Follow the social media of Merck Foundation: Facebook ( X ( Instagram ( YouTube ( Threads ( and Flickr ( The Merck Foundation is dedicated to improving social and health outcomes for communities in need. While it collaborates with various partners, including governments to achieve its humanitarian goals, the foundation remains strictly neutral in political matters. 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Our platform remained a robust earnings engine with Attributable to Shareholders profits reaching SR154 million in the first half (SR82M in 2Q25) or 28% up year-on-year, after absorbing the anticipated start‑up operating losses from ramping facilities —investments that are underpinning our multi‑year growth trajectory. In Riyadh, operational beds increased to 102 (from 71 a year earlier), supporting mid‑30% growth in outpatient and inpatient volumes and a sharp rise in surgical throughput as higher‑complexity services scale. In Madinah, the Group admitted its first patients in the initial 48 beds (of 200 beds) under a disciplined, quality‑first ramp that is expected to build steadily. In Jeddah, the flagship network remained the primary revenue center, sustaining double‑digit volume growth and strong pull‑through across service lines. The Group broke ground on DSFMC Al Zahraa in Jeddah—developed in partnership with Yasser Yousef Naghi Investment Company—a key spoke in the hub‑and‑spoke strategy. The center will bring comprehensive, high‑quality care closer to the community via one‑day surgical suites, a 24/7 emergency department, an integrated diagnostic hub, and key medical specializations. Dr. Mazen Soliman Fakeeh added: 'Our integrated ecosystem—with tertiary hospitals, medical centers, home healthcare, emergency medical services, medical education, technology and retail medical offerings that complete our service continuum—continues to differentiate Fakeeh Care. We continue to invest in our digital infrastructure, embedding tools that optimize patient journeys, enhance resource utilization, and reinforce our value-based care model, elevating patient reported outcomes.' 'Looking ahead, our priorities are clear: drive utilization across our ramping facilities with strategic case mix refinement in Jeddah and Riyadh; execute a disciplined, quality first ramp in Madinah; advance milestones across our growth agenda; and continue embedding digital and data driven workflows that unlock efficiency while elevating care standards. We aim to further broaden our preventative medicine and early intervention offerings, strengthening longitudinal patient engagement. Throughout, we remain disciplined in capital deployment—preserving a conservative balance sheet as we fund expansion and cement the foundation for a highly scalable and sustainably profitable healthcare ecosystem. With a resilient mature platform, a scalable operating model, and a deepening role in the Kingdom's healthcare transformation, we are well positioned to create enduring value for patients, staff, students, shareholders and the broader community.' he concluded. During the quarter, the Group achieved JCI Enterprise Accreditation, becoming the first private healthcare group in the Kingdom to earn system‑wide endorsement—validating governance, safety culture, standardized clinical pathways and enterprise risk systems, and ensuring the quality DNA of the flagship facilities scales consistently as the network grows. In parallel, Fakeeh Emergency Medical Services (MedE) supported the Kingdom's Hajj operations through the mobilization of ambulatory teams and ambulances and the CSR operation of Namira Hospital at peak demand, deepening the Group's partnership with national health authorities and reinforcing its role in serving broader societal needs. Fakeeh Care Group's complete 2Q-2025 Earnings Release with management's analysis of the Company's performance is available for download on © Copyright 2022 The Saudi Gazette. All Rights Reserved. Provided by SyndiGate Media Inc. (
