It was 11:00 pm sometime in 2021. Rachael Adinu, who was heavily pregnant, was alone at her home in Awulema, Benue State, and urgently needed medical attention as she was about to give birth. She was screaming, but her voice was too low for the neighbors to hear.
Fortunately, Leonard Akor, a neighbor passing by, heard the faint call for help and answered. Ms. Adinu was first taken to the Awulema health center in the Ohimini local government. The health center was closed and there were no medical personnel present.
The next stop was a private clinic in Otukpo, another local government, where she was finally treated. Unfortunately, she lost the baby. A doctor told her that the loss could have been prevented if she had gone for prenatal care.
A similar unfortunate incident befell Adi Okoji, whose son, Mike Adi, died months after being born in Awulema. Ms. Okoji had given birth at home with the help of local midwives. A few days later, the baby suddenly fell ill and died.
“He couldn’t speak, he had a high temperature, he always cried, especially when he touched his head. I took him to Awulema hospital, the first day I did not meet them (medical staff). But the day I met them, the nurse on duty told me that malaria treatment was not available. She recommended herbs to me,” said Ms. Okoji.
Mike Adi is perhaps one of the 58 deaths per 1000 births of children under one year recorded in Nigeria in 2021.
Although Awulema has a health center, called Awulema Hospital, which should serve the needs of residents, a lack of staff and facilities has denied many residents the medical care they need.
Different ailments but the same herbs.
Since the health center that was meant to serve the community is not efficient, the residents only have two options; make the long trip to get medical care or use herbs. Most accept the latter.
John Awodi, aged 7, lay helpless in his father’s hut one day in August. His body temperature was high. His head ached and he felt pain all over his body.
John Awodi
“He has been like this since yesterday, lying on the mat. We have tried to contact the doctors, but no one has been found at the hospital yet. That is why we resort to using herbs,” said Jane Awodi, his mother.
Another mother, Ibe Ochoche, 27, who had already lost one of her four children, could not determine what was wrong with her 18-month-old daughter and there was no doctor to tell her.
Although the villagers suffer from different ailments, most of them could only use herbs as their main medication.
Brew port where the locals drink
Community chief Clement Okwubi said most villagers rely on herbs for treatment due to their availability and accessibility.
“Although God has blessed us here in this community. We don’t usually get sick. And when we do, we turn to herbs as our helpline,” he said.
Ibe Ochoche showing her 18-month-old girl with ailments. It could have been better
Seeing the condition of his people, a member of the House of Representatives representing the Otukpo/Ohimini Federal Constituency, Blessing Onuh, nominated Awulema Hospital for equipment in 2019.
A total of N23 million was allocated for the project and it was placed under the supervision of the National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA). This was the second time the project appeared in the budget.
In 2018, the former legislator representing the constituency, Adaji Ezekiel, nominated the same project at N10 million under the same agency.
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Some equipment was purchased but never put into use in the hospital. The team remains locked in a hospital room and includes two motorcycles, some buckets and packages of syringes.
In July 2021 and August 2022, UDEME, an accountability and transparency project of the Center for Journalistic Innovation and Development (CJID), visited the site.
The enclosure was covered with grass and the paintings were already peeling off.
The building consists of 10 pavilions, but the two health officials who work at the hospital only use one. Of the two nurses, only one comes frequently, residents said.
Every time two villagers get sick, it becomes a challenge for the health workers.
“Most of the time, patients leave due to lack of space in the bed; the room is for general purposes. For both men and women, and we usually have problems when two people get sick at the same time,” said Felicia Odeh, one of the health workers at the hospital.
The occupation of the Awulema Hospital establishment shows the isolation of the town
“This bed is where we normally give birth to children, we also use it for other things like a blood transfusion and drip,” he added.
Ada Abochi, the officer in charge of the hospital, explained why they still cannot use the equipment.
“These materials have not been delivered to us because the hospital is not in charge. The last time they brought materials was about two years ago when I came to work here. The material will help us a lot in providing our services to the people of Awulema,” he said in August.
Agency, legislator does not respond
In 2021, UDEME sent a FOI to NPHCDA to ask questions about the uses of allocated resources, but the agency did not respond. This reporter also visited the agency’s office in Benue state, but officials from the office claimed ignorance and refused to comment.
In addition, in August an attempt was made to contact Ms. Onuh, the legislator, to confirm the claim that she had not ordered the use of the equipment. Several calls and messages sent to her line went unanswered.
Ruined house on the side of a ravine in the PHC of Osin Okete Nigeria
The Awulema health center is one of thousands scattered across Nigeria that lack basic services and staff.
Following the model of the National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA), a primary health center must have one or more physicians, a pharmacist, a nurse, and other paramedical support staff to provide outreach services.
It should also have a well-equipped open ward, delivery room, children’s and women’s rooms, medical office and accommodation for staff, an ambulance for referrals and medicines and equipment for immunization, basic preventive and curative care. The center will also provide monitoring and evaluation, as well as maternal and child health services.
The Awulema center, like thousands in Nigeria, lacks most of the necessary requirements.
When contacted, Benue State Primary Health Care Board (BSPHCB) Executive Secretary Bem Ageda said the government is aware of the prevailing circumstances and plans are underway.
“I am aware that primary health care facilities in many of our communities need intervention. Some of them lack manpower and facilities. We have various plans in place such as upgrading the workforce through recruitment that will start soon,” she said.