Yohanna Kusau: Unassuming Pioneer of Basic Medical Care in Nigeria

At Kabusa Primary Healthcare Centre, the day begins before the morning sun has fully risen over the community, with the waiting area already bustling with activity, filled with the cries of babies, pregnant women awaiting antenatal check-ups, and children clinging to their parents.

n

The air is filled with conversations, footsteps, and the steady rhythm of healthcare workers moving from one patient to another, as people arrive with various concerns, from fevers that won't subside to troubling symptoms, seeking answers, routine immunisations, and reassurance about their pregnancies.

n

Despite the long queues and challenges, the atmosphere is remarkable, with patients' anxiety dissipating as they know they will be listened to, treated with dignity and care, and leave feeling lighter, carrying not just medication but hope.

n

Across Nigeria, Primary Healthcare Centers remain the first and most accessible point of care for millions, serving as the starting point for many families, where they receive diagnoses and find reassurance during uncertain times.

n

The character and commitment of frontline health workers, such as Mr. Yohanna Kusau, often bridge the care gap and determine the patient experience, even in a system under immense strain from being understaffed, under-resourced, and facing low trust.

n

In December 2025, the PAC4PHC project team conducted a community engagement visit to Toga Sarki in the Abuja Municipal Area Council, where residents spoke enthusiastically about a health worker who had significantly improved service delivery, prompting the team to investigate further.

n

Upon visiting the primary healthcare facility, it became clear why residents spoke highly of Yohanna Kusau, as the team waited in the long queue and observed how each person spent at least five minutes in his consulting room, leaving with reassurance and strength.

n

Yohanna Kusau, born in 1974 in Makarfi Local Government Area of Kaduna State, had always wanted to be a medical doctor but instead studied journalism and later trained at the College of Health Technology in Kaduna from 1996 to 1999.

n

After facing uncertainty in securing employment, he started a small pharmacy business, which his wife helped sustain while he furthered his education, reflecting the quiet partnership behind his achievements.

n

In 2008, he formally joined the health sector, a step that defined his career, with his guiding principle being to listen attentively to patients, maintain strict confidentiality, and deliver preventive care, believing that "listening is the first medicine".

n

Yohanna Kusau spoke about confidentiality as a promise, particularly in communities where stigma around illness can persist, and patients at his facilities learned that what they said in the consultation room stayed there, earning their trust.

n

In 2012, he went back to ABU, Zaria, for a diploma in community health service, and in 2017, he enrolled at the National Open University of Nigeria, graduating with a B.Sc. in Public Health in 2023 at age forty-nine, believing that his patients deserve a health worker who is still learning and growing.

n

Yohanna Kusau was transferred to Pyakasa in FCT in 2016 and spent nine years there before being transferred to Toga Sarki in February 2025, and then to Kabusa in January 2026, with colleagues and community members consistently describing his ability to listen as a key quality.

n

Stories of his willingness to help those in need are common, such as the example of an elderly woman known as 'Granma', whom he contributed financially to treat and stayed involved with throughout her illness, earning the trust of the community.

n

Teacher Blessing Amos, a teacher in Toga Sarki, shared her experience bringing her daughter for care, noting the level of organization and attentiveness that stood out, as well as visible improvements within the facility, cleaner spaces, and better staff conduct.

n

Colleagues describe Yohanna Kusau as a leader who does not separate himself from others, teaching staff how to approach patients with respect and communicate effectively, and ensuring that consumables are available, repairs are attended to, and expenses are accounted for.

n

Currently serving at Kabusa Primary Healthcare Centre, Yohanna Kusau continues to build on his legacy, with a leadership style centered on the premise that healthcare should be people-centered, encouraging patients to speak openly and leading by example.

n

His story demonstrates that improving healthcare can start with small, consistent actions that reshape attitudes and build confidence over time, showing that leadership in primary healthcare is about responsibility, empathy, and presence.

n

At the heart of everything Yohanna Kusau does is a simple goal: to ensure that every patient who walks into the facility is listened to, treated with respect, and properly cared for, believing that people should not feel ignored or uncomfortable when seeking help.

n

Yohanna Kusau is a 2026 PHC Champion recognised under the National Primary Healthcare Development Agency's KNOW. TRUST. GO. Campaign, identified through community nominations and patient feedback data, validated by Ward Development Committees and facility-level evidence.

n

PHC Champions are ordinary health workers doing extraordinary work, deserving of trust and visits, with the Policy, Advocacy, and Communications for Primary Healthcare project aiming to build public trust in the primary healthcare sector in Nigeria through strategic communication, citizen co-creation, and advocacy.