The Church Reconstructs Kuchibuyi Primary Healthcare Center, Abuja

Tuesday, 4^th February 2025 was a memorable day in the lives of the people of Kuchibuyi community in the Bwari Area Council of the Federal Capital Territory(FCT), Abuja, Nigeria as their newly reconstructed health center was commissioned. The reconstruction of the facility was sponsored by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in collaboration with WaterAid, Nigeria.

The Kuchibuyi Primary Healthcare Center was identified for improvement as part of the Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH)  program for healthcare facilities. However, what was meant to be a renovation and upgrade of the existing facilities turned into a complete reconstruction of the entire facility due to the dilapidated and sorry state of the former facilities.

The new facility will serve over 2000 patients in Kuchibuyi and neighboring communities. In addition to providing WASH facilities, a medical waste incinerator and perimeter fencing, the project also included training 30 women in Hygiene Behavior Change(HBC) and Infection Prevention and Control (IPC); 5 healthcare workers in water quality testing and treatment procedures, 4 facility caretakers while about 630 persons attended basic Hygiene Behavior Change training sessions.

Obinna Alaribe, President of the Abuja Nigeria Wuse Stake who represented the Church in his remarks, told the people ‘The Church is happy to provide you with this facility. We love you; we support you. Encourage others to use the facility so that they may become better’.

Dr. Ruqayya Wamakko, Executive Secretary of the Federal Capital Territory Primary Healthcare Board, while speaking at the occasion thank the church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints for providing the Kuchibuyi community with a befitting health center. She appealed to the Church to upgrade the facility to the highest standard of primary healthcare by providing the medical staff with housing on the premises to ensure 24 hours service at the center.

Dr. John Gbaya, Chairman of the Bwari Local Council was full of praises for the Church. He said the quality and extent of work done by the Church at the center encouraged him to purchase modern medical equipment for the center. ‘I can boldly say that this is the best Primary Health Center in the FCT’. He requested more support from the Church and appealed for a unit of the Church to be established in Kuchibuyi.

The project was completed within the 12 months allocated for it. WaterAid began working in Nigeria over 20 years ago. The Church has supported WASH projects with WaterAid in the Africa West Area since 2019.