KADUNA, North-West, Nigeria – Residents of Anguwan Jatau Community in Igabi Local Governmnt Area of Kaduna State, has appealed to Governor Nasir El-Rufa’i to open a newly constructed Primary Healthcare Centre to reduce maternal and infant mortality in the area.
Residents said the health facility built 3 years ago has been abandoned; adding that if in operation it would help check out-of-pocket medical bills and save lives.
The Anguwan Jatau community with about 3,000 inhabitants of mostly peasant farmers of Gbagyi extraction is behind National Teachers Institute, (NTI), and Rigachikun in Igabi LGA.
A traditional titleholder in the community, Mr Musa Kasuwa (Sarkin Fada), told reporters that the hospital was constructed three years ago, equipped with necessary facilities to enabled it operate smoothly.
According to him, all the equipment in the facility remained intact, but its non operation is becoming worrisome to residents, as most of them have to traveled distant kilometres to accessed medical diagnosis and other medical checkups.
The three-year old PHC
“The PHC is one of the biggest with many rooms and the building is of great standard which has been abandoned for no reason known to us.
“All these years, the Traditional Birth Attendants, (TBA), in the community has been most helpful in taking deliveries of our babies during raining season at night.
“During raining season, some of the poor and vulnerable that live in the area use wheelbarrows, bicycles, motorcycles or animals to take pregnant women and other sick people to hospitals over far distances due to bad road.
“We are appealing to the Kaduna State Government to come to our aide and open this facility for our use.
“We are begging the Kaduna State Government to come and open this hospital for us. Opening this hospital would reduce the problems our women, children and the senior citizens encounter daily,” he appealed.
Another resident, Mr John Musa, said the Angwan Jatau community and additional 8 communities including; Angwan Zabi, Tokare, Angwan Sarki, Angwan Fulani, Kukumake, Rafin Guza, Malalin-Gabas, Ruhugi, Gwauro; and residents of Rigachikun will benefits from the services of the facility.
