Iva Valley Primary Health Centre Upgrade

Following our research on child welfare in Iva Valley, Kunie Foundation identified poor healthcare infrastructure and low utilization of public health services as critical barriers affecting maternal and child well-being.

The Iva Valley Primary Health Care Centre, the community’s main public health facility, was operating in a dilapidated condition, limiting service quality, community trust, and healthcare access. Families were relying heavily on chemists and informal providers due to inadequate infrastructure and limited staffing.

Our task was clear: strengthen the existing PHC to improve healthcare delivery, increase utilization, and create a more functional, dignified space for mothers and children to access essential services.

Kunie Foundation carried out a soft upgrade of the Iva Valley Primary Health Care Centre in partnership with the Enugu State Primary Health Care Development Agency (ENS-PHCDA).

Our intervention included:

• Rehabilitation and improvement of the facility’s physical infrastructure.
• Donation and installation of essential medical equipment and supplies.
• Strengthening operational readiness of the PHC to deliver maternal and child health services.
• Coordination with state health authorities to ensure formal handover and sustainability.

On 24 January 2026, the upgraded facility was officially handed over and commissioned by the Executive Secretary of ENS-PHCDA, Dr. Ifeyinwa Ani-Osheku, in the presence of community leaders, traditional rulers, PHC officials, civil society stakeholders, and media representatives.

Beyond infrastructure, the commissioning event included community health sensitization sessions on cervical cancer awareness, HPV vaccination, safe childbirth practices, and general health education, reinforcing our commitment to preventive care and awareness-building.

This project was not a standalone renovation; it was a coordinated effort to restore functionality, credibility, and accountability within a public health institution serving a vulnerable community.

The upgrade has already triggered concrete outcomes:

• The Executive Secretary committed to deploying two additional healthcare workers (a doctor and a nurse) to strengthen service delivery.
• The State Government pledged additional medical equipment, including a baby bed, weighing scale, and delivery forceps.
• Additional drugs were donated during the commissioning to improve immediate service capacity.
• The facility is projected to transition into a standalone health centre funded directly by the Federal Government, significantly increasing long-term sustainability.
• Community leaders publicly endorsed the facility and encouraged increased patronage, helping to rebuild trust in public healthcare services.

Importantly, this intervention shifted the PHC from a neglected structure to an operational, state-recognized facility with renewed government oversight and accountability.

Based on observations during the project, we have already initiated follow-up actions:

• Documenting and tracking government commitments.
• Conducting a technical assessment for water provision and plumbing improvements.
• Developing a community utilization campaign to increase service uptake.
• Establishing a monitoring framework to track patient flow, maternal health indicators, and service utilization.

This project moved healthcare access from discussion to implementation. It restored a critical public institution, secured government commitments, and positioned the Iva Valley PHC as an active, functional healthcare access point for mothers and children.