Over fifteen thousand residents have been denied access to quality medical care in Olunloyo, Ona-ara LGA in Oyo state for the past six years. The health centre in the community is in shambles and unfit for human use.
Tracka spoke to a nurse at the facility who revealed that the facility is both underequipped and understaffed.
“Only four government staff and six voluntary medical workers are here. This is very low compared to the patients that patronize the centre, and it also affects the quality of care that people receive. We don’t have equipment and drugs to take care of our patients.”
It is also important to note that this health centre does not have a wheel-chair accessible entrance, which automatically excludes people living with disabilities from accessing healthcare in the community.
In August 2021, we visited this community to sensitize the citizens on the SUPPLY OF MEDICAL EQUIPMENT TO WINDIRAN COMMUNITY HEALTHCARE OKE IMOLE WARD 7 ONA-ARA LGA OF OYO STATE for N8,000,000. We also engaged them on how to hold the government accountable and take ownership of public projects in their community to ensure effective project delivery.
During the town hall meeting, the residents lamented the state of the health centre facility. Adebisi, a member of the community, narrated her experience when she gave birth.
“It was always raining during the period I gave birth, and everywhere was leaking. Everywhere in the ward was flooded, so it increased the mosquitoes in the hospital. It was only God that saved my newborn baby and me from complications. When our people are sick, they don’t visit the place because of how bad it is. Somebody can carry extra sickness and go back home from there.”
The residents also complained about the water situation. Only two wells are serving the entire community, and this creates frequent water shortages and water-related diseases.
Enitan, a youth in the community, told Tracka that the supply of equipment to the hospital in the 2021 budget is not enough. For the facility to function well, it needs to provide adequate medical personnel and proper renovation.
The community leaders appealed to the Oyo state government and Federal government to ensure that this project is implemented to significantly improve the residents’ condition.
“We are begging the government to work on the project as it is stated in the budget. We will also appreciate a total renovation of the PHC and the community primary school. We also need more water wells to serve the community.
Our people have been trying their best to keep everything working, but it does not show because many are poor. We should not be spending our little earnings on repairs. How far will it even go?”
Tracka will continue to follow up with this community to ensure that this project is properly implemented for the good of the people. The supply of medical equipment is not the final solution to the health problems of the people of Ona-ara, but it is a good start.
Oyo state government prides itself as a citizen-focused government, but it has to do more beyond social media relations. The people are suffering because they lack healthcare, water, electricity, and education. This shouldn’t be.
Story by Ayomide Ladipo and Adeyemi Ademuyiwa.
This story is published under Tracka’s #FixOurPHCs series. The series highlights how the state of health facilities in communities affects citizens’ quality of life.
