Primary Health Centre, Gana Jigawa fter the renovation
In Katsina state, over 16,000 people in Gana Jigawa in Mashi LGA did not have quality primary healthcare. The healthcare centre in the community was dilapidated, had no equipment or drugs; therefore, citizens abandoned the centre.
Residents had to resort to self-treatment when ill, and many women had died from giving birth at home and not having access to ante-natal services. We spoke to community residents who spoke of all the troubles they had to go through because the available healthcare centre was not functional.
“I gave birth to my last child at home because I had no choice. I can not go to the health centre. It is like a death trap. You can even develop infections and other sicknesses from receiving treatment there.” Saratu, a mother of two, told Tracka.
The casual health worker in the facility told us that the dilapidated structure affected their productivity and the services they provide to the residents.
“We can’t provide ante-natal services or even attend to basic health crises because there is no bed, equipment, or drugs. We are just here for the sake of it.”
In the 2021 Federal budget, there was a provision for the renovation of the Primary Health Centre, Gana Jigawa, for N8 million. In October 2021, Tracka visited the community to hold a town hall meeting to sensitize them on engaging all the necessary stakeholders to ensure the project is implemented.
In January 2022, we got a call from a resident in the community. They informed us that the contractor had mounted a signpost at the health centre, signifying the project’s completion when nothing had been done. We revisited the community to gather more information and notified Nigerians of the fraudulent activity on our social media handles to spur action.
Two days later, the contractors quickly mobilized and resumed the renovation work. Now, the health centre looks good as new medical equipment has been supplied. The traditional leader of the community, Mallam Mustapha Gana, expressed his gratitude to Tracka and explained how this would alleviate the health sufferings of his people.
“We are very grateful to Tracka for helping us to make sure the health centre was renovated and equipped. My people now have a good health centre and will no longer lose their lives to avoidable illnesses.” he said.
The health worker in the community told Tracka that they will begin to offer ante-natal services to pregnant women and good postnatal services because of the intervention.
“Before, we didn’t offer ante-natal services, but we will start this month. All the pregnant women in Gana Jigawa and the neighbouring communities will be able to receive quality treatment.” he explained.
However, the community also raised concerns that the health facility needs fencing to protect the building, equipment, health workers and patients.
We commend the Federal Government and the National Primary Healthcare Development Agency for their excellent work. We urge them to fence the health centre to secure patients, health workers, and medical equipment.
Story by Ayomide Ladipo and Mustapha Saddiq
