Barely a month after WikkiTimes exposed the dire health conditions in Gwallagan Mayaka, a suburb of Bauchi State, the state government has built a dispensary for the locals.
WikkiTimes had reported that the community which is four kilometres away from the state government house harbours about 20,000 locals who were denied access to public healthcare services. The locals had over the years depended on a volunteer who operated a rented shop.
It was reported that a Primary Healthcare Centre (PHC) was established in the community about seven years ago, but it continued to degenerate from its own structure to a shop rented by locals.
Initially, the facility was relocated to another place after the community members could not renew its rent. A contingent of community members under the aegis of the Village Development Committee (VDC) rented another apartment afterwards, but the cash-strapped facility later found its way to a shop.
During WikkiTimes’ visit to the area on February 6, the newly constructed dispensary was completed with the exception of toilets which are under construction. However, the community expressed their joy over the dispensary constructed by the government.
The Community Head, (Wakilin Sarkin Gwallaga) Aliyu Umar thanked Governor Bala Mohammed for a swift action to consider their plights. He also extolled the ministry of local government affairs under Abdurrazak Nuhu Zaki.
“We thank the governor and the commissioner in the state ministry for local governments for the gesture,” he said.
He explained that with their numerous livelihood challenges, the gesture has fortified their hope that other pressing issues bedevilling the community would be addressed as well. “We know our dreaded road will be next – they will construct it by God’s grace,” the smiling village head said.
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WikkiTimes also revealed how the road linking the community to other communities including the seat of power, exposed the locals to socioeconomic hardships for several years.
The community is geographically part of the Bauchi metropolis, but socially isolated, Umar had said, urging the state government to execute more developmental projects in the community for economic and social benefits.
He also pleaded with the state government to deploy healthcare staff to the community to handle their decade-long sufferings, adding that Gwallagan Mayaka is the food basket of Bauchi town.
“We produce a lot of food for the town. Just go to the road and see how farm produces is transported to the town but the road is the problem,” said Umar. “I know he can’t solve all the problems overnight, but we can’t conceal our miserable situations too. We thank him so much, and remain grateful for the gesture.”
