Every three months after initial town hall meetings, communities have an opportunity to determine whether the promises made following a health facility assessment had translated into action. Three months after residents of Alkalawa community in Kano State assessed their Primary Healthcare Centre (PHC) through a community town hall meeting scorecard assessment, they reconvened in May 2026 to review progress and demand further improvements in awareness, staffing and maternal health equipment.

The follow-up town hall meeting, facilitated by Nigeria Health Watch in collaboration with Akin Savvy Awareness Initiative for Africans, formed part of an accountability process designed to track actions agreed during the initial community dialogue. The renovated PHC, a level 2 Basic Health Care Provision Fund (BHCPF) focal facility, continues to provide free healthcare services but struggles with low utilisation despite recent infrastructure improvements.

Presenting updates at the meeting, the Officer-in-Charge, Ibrahim Lawan Usman, acknowledged that critical gaps identified during the first engagement remain unresolved. According to him, the facility still lacks delivery beds, delivery kits and essential diagnostic equipment such as a Packed Cell Volume (PCV) machine.

“We do not have delivery beds,” he said, adding that the shortage of health workers and midwives continues to limit service delivery.

He also noted that community awareness remains poor. “Some days, fewer than three people visit the facility. Medicines sometimes expire because many residents still do not know that services here are free.”

Community stakeholder Nasir Kura welcomed the renovation but stressed that improved infrastructure alone cannot guarantee better health outcomes without sustained community engagement and increased utilisation. Another resident, Abdullahi, observed that many people remain unaware of the facility’s existence, calling for stronger community sensitisation.

Salisu Mohammed, Programme State Liaison for Kano at Nigeria Health Watch, stated that while the facility is among the revitalised PHCs in Kano State, increasing antenatal attendance remains critical for reducing preventable maternal and newborn deaths through early detection of pregnancy complications.

The follow-up scorecard assessment showed that while physical infrastructure has improved, persistent shortages of skilled personnel, essential equipment and public awareness continue to affect service utilisation. These findings reinforce the objectives of Nigeria’s Health Sector Renewal Investment Initiative (NHSRII), particularly the commitment to strengthen primary healthcare through quality, equitable and people-centred services.

Community members called on government and partners to provide:

• Additional skilled health workers,
• Delivery beds and equipment
• Sustained awareness campaigns to ensure the renovated PHC delivers the quality services residents expect.

“Accountability should not end with renovation”, Salisu stated, “it should continue until every community member can confidently access quality healthcare.”