Pregnant Women, Elders, PWDs Groan Over Dilapidated State Of PHC In Osun Communities
Residents of Obamoro in Ola-Oluwa Local Government Area of Osun State are currently facing difficulties in seeking medical help over the deplorable condition of the community’s Primary Health Centre (PHC).
OSUN DEFENDER gathered that the facility is currently unfit for effective medical service as residents are forced to seek treatment in an unsafe environment or travel long distances to seek alternative health care.
An assessment on the facility by OSUN DEFENDER on Tuesday showed leaking roofing sheets, open and dusty floors, broken windows and damaged doors, all of which expose patients and health workers to health and security risks.
The condition of the centre falls short of basic standard required for safe and hygienic health care services.
Some community members who spoke with OSUN DEFENDER on condition of anonymity decried the poor state of the facility, noting that it makes it extremely difficult to provide and access quality care.
In a public appeal by a civic accountability group, TRACKA, the group called on Osun State Governor, Ademola Adeleke, alongside relevant authorities including the Osun State Ministry of Health, National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA) and the Federal Ministry of Health to urgently intervene and rehabilitate the centre.
The organisation stressed that restoring Obamoro PHC would significantly improve access to affordable healthcare, enhance patient safety and create a better working environment for health personnel working in the community.
The group also urged citizens and stakeholders to demand accountability in the use of public funds, emphasizing that healthcare infrastructure should work for the good of the people.
The group reaffirmed its commitment to tracking government projects and ensuring that public resources deliver meaningful impact, particularly in grassroots communities where access to basic health services remains critical.
The situation wasn’t different at Ilemowu community also in Olaoluwa Local Government Area of the state.
The community is without a functional Primary Health Care facility following years of neglect of the only centre serving the town.
The Primary Health Care Centre, which caters for thousands of residents, has deteriorated significantly, with parts of the structure reportedly collapsed, leaving the community without access to basic medical services.
The prolonged neglect has persisted despite repeated complaints by residents to relevant authorities at both local and state levels.
The Civic Technology Platform in its reaction to the ugly development stated that “today, residents including pregnant women, children, the elderly and persons with disabilities are forced to travel long distance to neighboring communities to seek medical care, exposing them to avoidable risks and additional financial burdens.”
Highlighting the physical condition of the facility, the group further noted: “The situation is alarming. Roofing sheets are missing, walls are cracked, doors and windows are destroyed, there are no healthcare workers on site, and no functional medical equipment.”
The group also drew attention to the broader context of public health funding and interventions, adding: “This is happening in a state that budgets billions of naira annually for health and despite ongoing federal government-funded primary healthcare renovation projects across the country, Ilemowu has been completely ignored.”
Yusuf Oketola is a trained journalist with over five years of experience in the media industry. He has worked for both print and online medium. He is a thorough-bred professional with an eye of hindsight on issues bothering on social justice, purposeful leadership, and a society where the leaders charge and work for the prosperity of the people.
