An unbearable stench from Yan Kifi Health Post in Kano State is driving away potential patients who desperately need healthcare. The smell is said to be from faeces during a bat infestation in the facility due to the absence of a ceiling.
This situation has turned what should be a place of healing and recovery into an unwelcoming environment, especially for pregnant women and mothers with infants and young children.
Located in Ghari Local Government Area (LGA), Yan Kifi Health Post serves over 5,000 residents from surrounding communities like Bargumawa, Shamakawa, Kantawa, Salahawa, and Chigali. Despite its importance, the facility falls short of the National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA) standards. Apart from the foul smell it also lacks proper waste disposal, a functioning toilet, a clean water supply, and adequate staffing making its patronage extremely low. Many women choose to travel five kilometres away to access better healthcare in Kunchi and Yan Dadi.
Laure, a pregnant woman, said “the smell is terrible. Even [when] walking past the facility, you can perceive it. Many pregnant women avoid coming here because of it.” Fatima Muhammed, another resident and a mother of one, explains that, “[the] bats have taken over due to the missing ceiling. There’s no toilet, and medicines are often unavailable. We need urgent renovations,” Fatima added.
“If there were enough staff we [will] bring our children here,” Mairo Magaji, a teacher and mother, said. “But now, we must travel far for healthcare. Pregnant women sometimes give birth on the road because they can’t get proper care.”
Bashir Yunusa Yan Kifi, the Assistant-in-Charge of the health post, confirms the problem: “The smell is from bat droppings, and we don’t have a cleaner. Sometimes, I clean the facility myself.” He also weighed in on the staffing challenges, adding that “among the three workers here, only the [Officer-in-Charge] is a permanent staff. We need more healthcare workers.”
Only 10 to 15 women visit monthly for their child’s immunisations, while antenatal services see about 20 women per month. The lack of staff and proper infrastructure forces many residents to seek healthcare elsewhere, increasing the risk of maternal and infant mortality.
The situation at Yan Kifi Health Post highlights the need for urgent intervention. Nigeria’s Health Sector Renewal Plan, through its second pillar, emphasises building an efficient, equitable, and quality health system. However, facilities like Yan Kifi fall short of this goal due to poor infrastructure and staffing shortages.
Residents are calling for:
- Urgent renovation of the health post, including fixing the ceiling.
- Permanent employment of healthcare workers.
- A consistent supply of essential drugs.
- Hiring a dedicated cleaner to maintain hygiene.
A functioning health post is a lifeline for rural communities. “If we fix these issues, more women will come, and fewer lives will be at risk,” Mairo said.