Story by Iyanu Fatoba, Communications Associate, BudgIT
“Kò sẹ́ni tó lè lọ síbè fún ìtọ́jú, àfi tí wọ́n bá ṣe tán tí wọ́n fẹ́kú(No one goes to that place for treatment except they are ready to die)” Akanbi lamented bitterly with a disgruntled look. The patches of fine wrinkles on his face did nothing to hide his angst.
Adewole, Tracka’s Project Tracking Officer, who had been on his first visit to Owode’s Primary Health Centre earlier that day couldn’t agree more with him. That was 8 months ago.
A SHORT BACKGROUND
It is no gainsaying that rural settlements in Nigeria battle a variety of challenges when it comes to accessing Healthcare services, whether paid or unpaid. The challenges perpetually swing from one pendulum to another. For instance, beneath the lack of inadequate health infrastructure and personnel, is the inability of residents to access these health care services even when available. In other cases, it is the blatant refusal of the government to deliver on its promises of adequate Healthcare that gets people confused and riled up. The worst part is that, sometimes, a community cannot accurately predict which of the quagmires it might slip into, especially if the challenge is, first of all, from the government that swore to provide basic amenities for its people. The marginalisation of rural communities when it comes to the delivery of basic amenities is an age-long conversation. This begs the question, Why must citizens grovel before the Government carries out its responsibility? It also makes you wonder if campaign promises were true or merely perfunctory.
This reality of Owode residents whose persistent calls for an improved and adequate Health Centre have been met with blatant disregard by the government they trusted and elected drives this point home even more.
Taking a cue from the words of Mr Akande, one of the youth representatives in Owode, Tracka’s visit to the community was, in fact, one of the few beams of hope they’d seen in a long while as they’ve mostly fought the prolonged battle for a befitting health facility alone, without assistance. To call the current Primary Healthcare Facility located in the heart of Owode community execrable would be an understatement. The building describes a deathtrap more than it does a hospital. Even a ranch has better equipment and aesthetics.
Owode is a Community in Ife South LGA, Osun state, with a population of over one thousand people. The residents are mostly farmers with a few traders and artisans. These same people have been without a functional Health Centre for many years, with no imminent expectation or promise from the government.
TRACKA’S ADVOCACY
Efforts made by leaders in the community to get the government’s attention have been unproductive and met with blatant disregard. In a meeting held by the TRACKA team with stakeholders in the community – the Monarch, Chiefs, Youth leaders, alongside other indigenes – expressed their disappointments in the State Government’s apathy towards the residents’ predicament. During a short meeting with the sitting Monarch, Chief Emmanuel Opayemi, he revealed that the dilapidated structure popularly called “Owode Primary Health Care Centre’’ has been in that deplorable condition for years. He berated the State Government’s nonchalant attitude towards the provision of a good health facility in the community.
‘’Despite our consistent calls for change, the Government still failed to do the right thing” He exclaimed.
The Monarch revealed to our team, that the current dilapidated facility was built through the collective efforts of the community, seeing that the former structure was nowhere near habitable; especially for pregnant women. To compound issues, health workers are never willing to care patients nor permanently stay due to the deplorable condition of the facility.
Mr Akanbi Moses, one of the youth leaders in Owode, buttressed the Monarch’s agitation, saying that the dilapidated structure lasted that long because the community has been in charge of its maintenance which hitherto has been halted indefinitely, due to inadequate resources.
“No one has been to the Health Center to receive treatment in the last seven years except they are ready to compound their health issues, or worse still, die, due to the absence of good facilities,” Moses added.
He berated the political representatives of the community at both the State and Federal levels, bitterly lamenting that government officials and political leaders only remember the existence of a community like Owode during the elections.
After Tracka’s visit to the community, we called the State Government and Governor Gboyega Oyetola’s attention to the woes of Owode residents. Hitherto, no action has been taken and all pleas have fallen on deaf ears.
Access to the highest attainable standard of health is a fundamental human right; and both the National and Subnational governments have the responsibility of providing healthcare for members of the public.
This can only be fulfilled by putting in place, adequate health and social measures — World Health Organization(WHO).
Sadly, this statement contradicts the reality of many rural settlements and that of Owode residents.
“Our plan is to write the government again on this issue. A community like Owode should have at least one Health Centre and we won’t stop until the government takes the necessary action” said Uadamen Ilevbaoje, Head of Tracka.
