The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) and Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, have handed over 28 newly solar-powered Primary Health Care (PHC) facilities to the Kano State Government and the National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA).
The initiative, implemented under the CDS3 Health System Strengthening programme, targets Nigeria’s 100 “zero-dose” local government areas (LGAs) — communities where many children have never received a single vaccine and have limited access to basic health services.
Gavi’s Senior Country Manager for Nigeria, Jessica Crawford, said the project followed a 2023 nationwide PHC functionality and energy needs assessment. A total of 371 health centres across Nigeria were selected for solarisation between 2024 and 2025 in partnership with eHealth Systems Africa.
“In Kano, 28 PHCs were prioritised based on their location in zero-dose LGAs, absence of overlap with other projects, and unreliable or non-existent electricity supply,” Crawford said. “This is more than infrastructure – it is about impact: building a sustainable and equitable health system for all.”
Kano State Commissioner for Health, Dr Abubakar Labaran, said the facilities would help address the state’s high rate of zero-dose children and pregnant women without access to routine immunisation and basic care. He urged communities to safeguard the facilities and ensure they are not diverted for personal use.
UNICEF’s Chief of Field Office in Kano, Rahama Farah – represented by Officer-in-Charge Michael Banda – said the solar systems would enable reliable vaccine storage, round-the-clock service delivery, and a reduction in fossil fuel dependency.
According to UNICEF, the 28 facilities were chosen for their active immunisation services, limited electricity access, and strategic importance in underserved areas.
The handover ceremony was attended by the Director-General of the Kano State Primary Health Care Management Board, Prof Salisu Ibrahim, as well as representatives from the World Health Organisation (WHO), the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, and other partners.
