Bauchi State Government has commenced reconstruction of Dabar Baga Primary Health Centre (PHC) following WikkiTimes report that detailed the suffering of the community, including plight of pregnant women.
The community, which has been without a functional healthcare facility for over a decade, now witnesses the ongoing reconstruction of its long-abandoned PHC.
WikkiTimes reports that pregnant women travel as far as 40 Kilometres sometimes on foot or motorcycle on a deplorable road to get to the hospital in another village.
The community members said some women have lost their lives in the process. They told WikkiTimes that they had resolved to reject routine immunization exercise due to the failure of the authorities to fix their only PHC facility.
The community’s residents have expressed their hope that the project will bring the much-needed relief especially for pregnant women.
This development follows a report by WikkiTimes, which brought attention to the plight of over 9,000 residents across Dabar Baga and neighboring villages.
The report narrated the grim realities faced by the residents particularly women that require access to antenatal care. Their children were receiving immunizations under a tree, and preventable deaths caused by the lack of basic medical services.
WikkiTimes reporter said that while the reconstruction is not yet complete, significant progress has been made as the destructed roofs had been fixed. Workers are seen on-site daily, and residents observe the changes with a mix of hope and caution.
“For the first time in years, we feel like our voices are being heard,” said Mal. Naziru Haruna, the ward head of Dabar Baga. “The work being done gives us hope that our suffering may soon come to an end.”
Recall that WikkiTimes reported that the community rejected vaccinations for their children as a form of protest to the authority over perceived neglect of the PHC.
The community’s traditional birth attendant, Malama Zuwaira Ayuba, who has long borne the burden of assisting deliveries without proper medical support, expressed her relief. “With the work ongoing, I can finally see a future where women don’t have to suffer so much during childbirth,” she said.
Though the PHC remains non-operational due to the ongoing work, the community is optimistic about the changes the completed facility will bring.
Services such as antenatal care, routine immunizations, and treatment for common ailments are expected to reduce maternal and infant mortality rates in the area.
Residents appealed to the government to upgrade the facility and ensure it is fully equipped and staffed to meet their healthcare needs.
“We are happy with the ongoing work, but it must not stop halfway,” said Sulaiman Ibrahim, a community member. “We need a fully functional hospital, not just a building.”
Sulaiman commended the WikkiTimes and all who contributed in any way toward the voicing their health condition
