Every morning, women who are pregnant or with sick children arrive and line up at Kujama Primary Healthcare (PHC), Tudun Wada in Kaduna, but often leave with nothing more than a prescription and frustration.
While renovations are ongoing to improve infrastructure, key barriers remain. Lack of essential drugs, insufficient space, and overcrowded wards impact the current quality of care. “I came in the morning to get my child vaccinated,” Confident Peter, a visibly exhausted pregnant woman, noted. “It’s afternoon now, and no one has attended to me.”
The PHC located in Chikun Local Government Area (LGA) is a Level 2 facility under the Basic Health Care Provision Fund (BHCPF). Despite serving multiple surrounding communities like Gwaraji, Gadan Gayan, and Mararaban Kujama, and being earmarked for expansion, the centre is struggling to meet the growing demand for maternal and child healthcare.
Mothers often walk long distances of over 17 kilometres only to be turned away due to drug stockouts or inadequate medical attention. Miss Janet Yusuf, the facility’s pharmacist, reports severe drug shortages. “We barely have antibiotics or pain relievers. Sometimes drugs do not come at all. My office is being used currently as an injection room because there is no space.”
Poor infrastructure, such as leaking roofs and limited beds, adds to the burden of care and undermines patient trust in the health system.
Simon Dauda, the Ward Development Committee Chairman, explained that “the local government chairman has secured land for the expansion of the health facility, but it has not been handed over officially. Without funding or community support, we cannot proceed with further development of the land, and patients will continue to suffer.”
While the ongoing renovation is part of the broader PHC revitalisation strategy of the Health Sector Renewal Investment Plan, it is important not to let other things like drug stockout, space shortages and staffing gaps negatively impact the quality of care essential to achieve Nigeria’s vision for efficient and equitable health services.
The Kujama community of Tudun Wada ward is hereby calling on the government and concerned stakeholders to:
- Prioritise consistent drug procurement, always ensuring its availability to meet the growing health needs of the people.
- Fast-track the facility expansion
- Address staffing gaps
- Mobilise community participation to strengthen PHC delivery.
- Stakeholders should also explore sustainable funding partnerships to fill critical gaps.