A burgeoning healthcare crisis is unfolding in Nasarawa State as primary healthcare centers (PHCs) in Karu and Lafia Local Government Areas have fallen into a severe state of disrepair, leaving thousands of residents without access to basic medical services.
The Rugan Juli Crisis
In Rugan Juli, Karu LGA, the sole Primary Healthcare Center serving a population of over 10,000 people is reportedly on the verge of collapse. The facility, which stands as the only medical lifeline for the community, is currently defined by leaking roofs, shattered flooring, and a total absence of electricity and potable water.
Beyond the structural decay, the center lacks the essential medical equipment required to treat even minor ailments, forcing the large population to rely on a facility that is “medical” in name only.
Bukan Sidi: A Facility Overwhelmed
A similar pattern of neglect is evident at the Bukan Sidi PHC in the state capital, Lafia. Observations reveal a facility struggling under the weight of a growing population with zero territorial expansion or equipment upgrades.
The physical infrastructure has deteriorated significantly, characterized by visible structural cracks and ceilings that offer no protection from the elements.
Desperate Measures for Residents
The impact on the local population has been immediate and dangerous. With the public centers failing, residents who cannot afford the high cost of private hospitals are turning to unregulated self-medication or embarking on arduous journeys to distant urban centers to seek help.
“The present condition of the facility is terrible… residents who do not have means to go to a private clinic are either self-medicating or traveling long distances to access proper care,” A resident spoke on the condition of anonymity regarding the dire situation in Rugan Juli.
Urgent Call for Federal Intervention
Community leaders and health advocates are now issuing an urgent plea to the National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA) and the Federal Ministry of Health. The demand is clear: an immediate intervention to facilitate the reconstruction and furnishing of these facilities.
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