This is as residents are forced to receive treatment inside a nearby primary school classroom.
Acivic technology organisation, TrackaNG, has raised the alarm over the deplorable state of Lewe Primary Health Care in Fika Local Government Area of Yobe State, accusing government authorities of abandoning the facility for more than 10 years.
This is as residents are forced to receive treatment inside a nearby primary school classroom.
In a report released on Wednesday, the organisation described the situation as a disgraceful example of state neglect, noting that the centre, meant to serve families, pregnant women, children and the elderly, has become unsafe and unusable.
“A Primary Health Centre that can no longer protect lives for over 10 years.
“When we visited Lewe Primary Health Care in Fika LGA, Yobe State, we found a facility that should be serving families, pregnant women, children, and the elderly, but is instead abandoned by neglect,” the statement read.
According to TrackaNG, residents said the health centre had been shut for over 10 years, forcing healthcare services to be improvised in a dusty school building because the original structure could collapse at any moment.
“Residents told us the PHC has been closed for over a decade. Today, healthcare services are being improvised inside a nearby dusty primary school because the original building is unsafe and could collapse at any moment.
“Imagine a pregnant woman seeking care in an unkempt classroom. Imagine a sick child treated where pupils should be learning. Imagine a community without a safe health centre to run to in emergencies.”
The group said the facility lacks nearly every basic requirement for effective healthcare delivery.
“The facility lacks almost everything needed for basic healthcare: Laboratory, clean toilets, electricity, waste disposal system, ambulance, staff quarters, proper signpost.”
TrackaNG added that residents said the centre is mostly remembered during malaria outbreaks, but even then, the poor condition of the facility prevents meaningful medical intervention.
“Community members say they mostly remember the centre during malaria outbreaks, yet even then, its poor condition limits what can be done.”
The organisation said it held meetings with residents, the Ward Development Committee and community leaders, all of whom demanded urgent rehabilitation of the health centre.
“We held discussions with residents and convened a town hall meeting with the Ward Development Committee and community leaders. The message was clear, Lewe deserves a functional health centre.”
TrackaNG called on Yobe State Governor Mai Mala Buni, Fika LGA Chairman Abdul Bukar Gadaka and other relevant authorities to urgently intervene and restore dignified healthcare access to the community.
“No community should receive healthcare in fear of a collapsing building. No citizen should be left behind because they are rural or offline.
“We call on Governor Mai Mala Buni, CON, Hon. Abdul Bukar Gadaka Fika LGA Chairman, and other relevant authorities in Yobe State, to urgently overhaul Lewe PHC so this community can access safe and dignified healthcare.”
