A decade ago, the residents of Minta Community in Plateau State were overjoyed when the project to construct staff quarters for the Mista-Ali Primary Health Care (PHC) facility began. However, the joy was dashed when the project was stopped in 2019 following the death of Hon. Ezekiel Afon, the representative of Pengana Constituency in the Plateau State House of Assembly, who had pledged to build the quarters.
The Mista-Ali PHC, situated in Minta community, Bassa Local Government, Plateau state, serves over 2,000 residents and caters to a wide range of health needs, from common ailments to immunizations, family planning, and childbirth.
The staff quarters construction project comprised four blocks of flats, with two reaching the roofing stage before the abrupt stop. The incomplete building has now fallen into disrepair as the already roofed sections of the flats are deteriorating. Termite infestations have damaged most of the ceilings, leaving them precariously hanging, causing hardship for the patients and staff, and severely impacting the operations of the PHC.
“We had plans to use one of the flats for immunization and antenatal services once completed, as our current space is insufficient. On busy days, we attend to around 70-80 individuals, which can be overwhelming, ” a healthcare worker shared.
To accommodate on-call staff, an existing ward has been converted into a makeshift accommodation, leading to a shortage of facilities for post-natal care. The workers lament that they have to clear out the wards to make room for patients and then hastily prepare the area for sleep at night, posing health risks even after disinfecting the beds.
Mr John, known as Mai Angwa, a community leader, expressed deep concern about the terrible condition of the PHC, highlighting issues such as water flooding in the wards and inadequate water access within the facility. He pleaded with representatives at all levels to come to the aid of the community, as the residents heavily rely on this facility during health crises.
Friday, a resident revealed that he travels to Jos for medical treatment due to the overcrowding and scarcity of medications at the Mista-Ali PHC.
There is an urgent need to complete the staff quarters project, staff, and equip the facility to cater to the health needs of the community members. The residents are in dire need of this critical infrastructure to ensure the provision of quality healthcare services.
We call on His Excellency Barr. Caleb Mutfwang, the Plateau State governor, Dr Raymond Juryit, Executive Secretary of the Plateau State Primary Healthcare Board, and Mr Fidelis Adara, the Chairman of Bassa LGA, to facilitate the recruitment of staff for this facility and oversee the completion of the Minta community primary health care to enable over 2,000 people in the community access to quality health care.
Story by Ayomide Ladipo and Sunday Idoko
