Boto General Hospital in Tafawa Balewa Local Government Area of Bauchi State, is home of open defecation, toxic odor and general decay in infrastructure, WikkiTimes findings revealed.
The shape of the hospital has been altered drastically 15 years after its inauguration, as patients continue to receive medical attention amidst worn out infrastructure, dirty environment and pungent smell resulting from defecation in open vicinity at the hospital.
WikkiTimes reports that upon entry into the hospital, the pungent smell is perceived in almost all the wards of the hospital, a situation that worries many patients receiving treatment.
Ya’u Adamu, a patient who has been in the hospital for three days captures his disappointment thus: “there are no toilet outlets in the hospital; the former toilets constructed when the hospital was new, is in terrible condition. They have not been fixed yet; it is difficult for you to go to the toilets, and if you managed to go there and come back, you will not be able to eat because the smell will irritate you to a point where one must lose appetite.”
He said patients receiving treatment had to sweep their rooms as there were no cleaners to keep the hospital clean.
WikkiTimes reports that the hospital beds, mattresses and bed sheets are home for bedbugs. Patients have to fumigate their beds, untie the bed-sheets and replace them with their own before they could rest in them.
Another patient, Hajara Sa’idu who spoke to WikkiTimes said, “I have been sleeping on the floor for the past two days that I have been in this hospital. There are no beds. Most of the beds broke while the available ones don’t have befitting mattresses. Sleeping on the beds will only worsen your condition.”
“When our relatives visit us, they have to stand or sit on the walk-way because there are no chairs. All the chairs brought to the hospital when it was constructed have broken into pieces. You can see the heap wreckage of broken beds and chairs after male ward,” said Hajara, gasping with utter dissatisfaction told this medium.
Aliyu Sabo whose son is on admission at the hospital said, dirt littered the environment because the hospital lacks dust bins. “Both patients and authorities of the hospital dump refuse in the open field. This is an act which health workers usually warn us against in our communities, but it is tenable in the hospital where they operate.”
When our correspondent confronted a medical officer at the hospital who identified himself as Dr. Kamma over the condition of the medical facility, he said “we used to have sanitation after two weeks to help keep the hospital environment clean, as many patients from within and outside Bauchi State troop-in for medical treatment.”
Dr. Kamma fingered people residing near the hospital as those responsible for breaching basic hygiene etiquettes at the hospital.
A nurse at the hospital who pleaded anonymity said, “The hospital has not received attention for renovation from previous governments in the state since it was constructed in 2004 by Ahmed Adamu Mu’azu who hails from the community.”
“Over the last 15-years, Boto General Hospital has not received any maintenance project from relevant health authorities in the State. For all those years, we have not received supply of a single mattress or pillows or beds; most of the beds and chairs in the hospital have broken down”, he added.
WikkiTimes had reported how two registered midwives at hospital labour 24/7 each week to conduct 202 deliveries and offer antenatal care (ANC) services for 165 pregnant women from January to June.
This medium reports that the General Hospital at Boto in Kardam B Ward in Tafawa Balewa LGA, with an approximate 5,000 population that also serves neighboring villages such as Juwa, Zabir, Maijuju, Gora, Murno, Maigemu, Katurje, Sati-Musa Maijuju-Tasha, Rise, Zandi, Zigam, Tile, Gabgel and Lere.
Other neigbouring communities from Plateau state such as Fusa, Bulli, Keres, Langai, Kadunu, Doss and Gindiri in Mangu LGA also accessed health care services at Boto General Hospital.
The hospital was constructed in 2004 by the administration of Ahmed Adamu Mu’azu who hails from the village. It was commissioned in 2005 by General Ibrahim Babangida, a former military dictator.
Responding, Dr. Rilwanu Mohammed, Executive Chairman, Bauchi State Primary Health Care Development Agency, said efforts are on top gear to renovate and equip most of the health facilities in the state.
“As soon as the Covid-19 Pandemic subsides, we will consolidate on our plans to renovate and equip all health facilities in the state with basic equipment and consumables, and I want assure that Boto General Hospital will also be consider”, he said.
