The Primary Healthcare Centre (PHC) in Gwada, Niger State, has received a long-overdue renovation, thanks to the State Government’s intervention, restoring the facility after years of deterioration.
Abubakar Barde, the Officer-in-Charge, said they have witnessed a significant influx of patients since the renovation. “We received funding from the Basic Healthcare Provision Funds [BHCPF] which has helped sustain the facility, and we have a record of beneficiaries who come to us for various treatments, documented on our registers,” he explained, noting that, “we always make sure to refer all cases beyond our scope to secondary or tertiary facilities, located in a different area, for further investigation and management” he further explained.
The renovation has brought new life to the clinic, with patients like Fatima Abdullahi, a 35-year-old mother of three, expressing gratitude for the improved services. “My niece recently delivered her baby here, and the staff were very helpful. We need more facilities like this,” she said, adding a Hausa saying, “Ko kana da kyau ka ƙara da wanka,” – “when something is already good, there’s always room for improvement”.
While the renovation has enhanced medical service delivery, there is still a need for additional equipment and infrastructure such as beds, mattresses, an ultrasound machine, and trained personnel to manage it. Nigeria Health Watch also observed that a pharmacy is not in the facility, and additional delivery rooms are needed to cater to the growing demand for healthcare services.
Image Credit: Nigeria Health Watch.
Abubakar Barde appealed to the State Government to upgrade the PHC to a General Hospital, “that will enable the facility to manage emergency operations without referrals to Kuta or Minna,” he explained. Barde also expressed gratitude for a tricycle that was donated by Raise Foundation which is used as an ambulance; however, he emphasised the need for an actual ambulance in case of long-distance referrals.
Image Credit: Nigeria Health Watch.
The PHC also has a functional solar-powered system and two newly built toilets for male and female patients.
The community, therefore, seeks the following interventions from Niger State government:
1. Upgrade of the Primary Healthcare Centre to a General Hospital to serve more patients with complex cases.
2. Provision of a pharmacy with adequate drugs to serve the needs of patients.
3. Provision of additional toilets, hospital beds, and delivery rooms to serve the larger number of people with diverse health needs visiting the PHC.
4. Provision of an ambulance.