The story of Kebbi hospital with no beds, roofs, water
From Ismail Adebayo, Birnin Kebbi
It was designed to be a beautiful edifice built to carter to the health needs of the people of Gawasu area of Birnin Kebbi Local Government Area of Kebbi State.
However, four years into its life the hospital is in a terrible shape, due to neglect.
The centre in its days of glory was the cynosure of all eyes, particularly first time visitors to Gawasu village, but today it is in a sorry state. Part of the roof of the building has been blown off by windstorm, just as its beddings, furniture and other equipment have been completely damaged.
Our correspondent who visited the hospital observed that the environment was dirty, decaying infrastructure and damaged beddings scattered around. It was also observed that despite the huge structure, there was no room fit for patients to sit, see doctors or even receive treatment. Daily Trust on Sunday gathered that patients are made to stand for hours while waiting to be attended to because there are no chairs on which to sit. There is only a bench outside the Waiting Room which can accommodate very few patients. It was also observed that all the apartments expected to be used by medical personnel are in a mess. It is in the filthy and unhealthy rooms that some of the patients on admission at the health care centre are being kept and treated by the nurses.
The PHC has only two nurses and they were posted there by the federal government under the SURE P programme of the last administration. The few other non-medical staff are employees of the state government.
One of the health officials at the PHC, who spoke to our correspondent, said, “this is the situation but we try our best to do our jobs. We attend to patients, especially women who come here on daily basis for anti-natal care. We admit some of them when necessary and we treat those with less serious issues and discharge them. I must tell you it has not been easy working under the conditions at this health care centre but we have no choice because it is our duty to attend to our patients. You can see the whole building is in a mess. No room here is good enough for patients to sleep in. The beddings and other furniture have gone terribly bad to the extent that they are no longer useful to the patients. You can see them all over the place”.
She said the situation is worse whenever it rains, adding, “the roof and ceiling of the building were damaged by windstorm. We are always worried whenever it is about to rain, because we have nowhere to hide. Many of the medical equipment were destroyed by rain.
For the hospital to get water for its daily use, staff have to go out and look for a generating set to rent with which we will pump water. It is pathetic.”
Late last year, the state Commissioner for Health, Alhaji Umar Usman Kambaza, after a state executive council meeting announced that the government had decided to spend N2 billion to renovate and expand 13 of its hospitals in Birnin Kebbi, Argungu, Zuru, Yauri, Maiyama, Koko-Besse and Kamba. He said the state hospitals in other local government areas would also be renovated and equipped in phases to meet the required standard and offer necessary medical services to people of the state. However, checks by our correspondent showed that months after the pronouncement work is yet to commence in many of the general hospitals selected for the renovation exercise.
However, since inception, the administration of Governor Abubakar Atiku Bagudu, with the support of his wife, Dr. Zainab Bagudu, has demonstrated some level of commitment to boost the Kebbi State health sector and make medical services available to the less privileged. It would be recalled that some Primary Health Care centres that had not been functional for many years in the state were renovated and equipped to function optimally. Some selected general hospitals were also put in shape and equipped. Besides, the government also embarked on many health initiatives such as the Cancer awareness and treatment initiative being sponsored by the governor’s wife to promote healthy living among Kebbi people. Twice within a year, 40 doctors and other health personnel were invited by the state government from the United States of America, Saudi Arabia and United Arab Emirate to carry out surgical operations on people with eye problems and other ailments in the state. To also demonstrate its commitment to health, the government early this year commissioned the N30bn specialist hospital in Kalgo area of the state. The gigantic hospital was constructed during the Dakingari administration but its structure and equipment were deteriorating when the state government rehabilitated and made it functional.
Given this commitment, some personalities in the state told our correspondent under condition of anonymity that the government cannot afford to ignore the unhealthy situation in some of its hospitals and primary health centres if it must sustain its health policy in the state. They argued that some of the health facilities, particularly in the rural areas are in dire need of government’s attention.
When contacted, the Commissioner for Health, Alhaji Umar Usman Kambaza, said the Gawasu Primary Health Centre, was under the supervision and maintenance of Birnin Kebbi Local Government.
“We don’t have a General Hospital at Gawasu. It may be PHC which is for now under the care of the local government authority,” he said.
And when our correspondent contacted the authorities of Birnin Kebbi Local Government Area for comment on the issue, Vice Chairman of the council, Alhaji Usman Ibrahim, confirmed that the primary health care was under the council.
He said: “It is true that the primary health care at Gawasu is under us. We are aware of its conditions and we have already taken steps to put it in better shape. It is in our budget this year”.