Equip Our Health Centre: Ejiko Community Pleads

The inhabitants of Ejiko community in Gbako Local Government Area (LGA) of Niger State are dealing with what they describe as ‘’a health facility that lacks the most basic facilities’’.

According to the community leader, Isah Muhammad, while the people appreciate the fact that they have a government healthcare centre, the facility is barely useful as the community members cannot go there to be treated for diseases like malaria and typhoid fever. A frequent occurrence in the community. Fatima Salihu, a community member said, ‘’The most dangerous issue is the fact that there are absolutely no drugs or equipment to handle deliveries in the health facility’’.

As a result of this, women in the community are taken to health facilities in other villages for delivery. The in-charge of the facility, Salihu Isa said, among other challenges, the facility also faces the non-availability of basic essential medicines. He therefore refers patients to health facilities in the urban areas even for health conditions that could be handled at their own health facility.

“It is not right that there will be a healthcare centre in Ejiko, yet people will have to go elsewhere to access healthcare services,” he added.

The facility is in urgent need of water, electricity, more health workers, drugs and equipment and basic improvement in the current infrastructure.