The entrance of the PHC
In Bagaranti community, Misau LGA in Bauchi state, residents do not have access to healthcare. The PHC in the community has completely broken down and cannot properly treat or admit sick patients.
During Tracka’s visit to the PHC, a patient, Muhammed Abubakar, received treatment on a bench because there were no beds and mattresses.
This PHC that has no beds serves 11 local communities – Manumawa, Biscori, Barigida, Yadori, Kulebadi, Bukadi, Wunrukada, Alhajo, Masori, S.Bagaranti including Bagaranti – and each of these villages has a minimum of 1,000 residents.
Tracka spoke to a staff of the PHC, who revealed that the facility has been horrible for over ten years.
“This is the only PHC in the community, but everything is bad. We don’t have drugs, beds, drip stands and other necessary equipment. We always use our money to buy drugs, and the patients buy drips, treatments for malaria, fever, and B.P from the town. Once women are confirmed pregnant, we immediately refer them to Misau general hospital, which is 3km away, for antenatal registration.”
In addition, the roads in the community are terrible, contributing to the avoidable deaths of villagers.
“When our women go into labour and there are complications, they are transferred to Misau. But because of the bad roads, some will die halfway through the journey. Many of us have lost our wives to this.” said Abubakar, a corn farmer.
“If the PHC had all the necessary equipment, they would be able to handle some of these cases and prevent some deaths.” he continued.
The health worker also complained about the lack of personnel to cover up for what they lack in equipment.
“We only have two medical staff and one volunteer. The volunteer is not always punctual because there’s no transport fare, and he only gets money during immunization. We try our best, but just two people cannot handle an entire PHC.” he said.
In June 2021, Governor Bala Muhammed promised volunteers working in the state primary healthcare centres across the state to absorb them permanently into service as health workers. Nothing has been done to date.
Jaro Ado, the village head, lamented how the entire village lacks electricity and potable water, so they can’t provide these needs for the PHC.
“We are in total darkness, and the only water source is the local well which is contaminated, but we drink it like that. We are suffering and dying from different health situations with nobody to help.”
He also talked about the bad roads and the government’s neglect.
“This our road has been like this since I was born. During the dry season, it is manageable and motorable but becomes waterlogged in the rainy season. We have complained severally, but nothing is being done about it. They only come during the election period to make promises. After their campaign promises, we vote for them, but they will not keep their promises.” he told Tracka.
Tracka is calling on Misau local government chairman, Alh. Abubakar Ahmed, Sen. Haliru Daduda Jika, Hon. Ibrahim Makama Misau, and the state’s governor, Senator Bala Mohammed to urgently look into this issue and prevent further loss of lives by renovating the PHC and providing adequate personnel and equipment for it to function.
Story by Ahmed Dauda and Ayomide Ladipo.
