The healthcare crisis in Nigeria has taken a dire turn in Osun State, where over 6,000 residents of the Balogun community in Ikire, Irewole Local Government Area, have been left completely stranded following the total collapse of their only Primary Health Centre (PHC).
Public accountability organization Tracka exposed the severe deterioration of the facility, revealing that no maintenance has been carried out on the structure since its construction in 2005. Two decades of absolute neglect have left the clinic completely uninhabitable, with the roofing sheets blown away, windows and doors collapsed, cracked walls, and the entire perimeter overtaken by overgrown bushes.
Dangerous Journeys for Basic Care
Because of the current state of the facility, sick residents, pregnant women, and the elderly are forced to travel over five kilometers to neighboring communities just to access basic medical treatment. Advocacy groups warn that this distance is a ticking time bomb for people experiencing medical emergencies.
“State of health facilities across the country can no longer be a quiet issue. Community members have to travel over 5km to a neighbouring community to get basic treatment and during emergencies, chances are that travel time will make things worse for patients,” Tracka stated in a public alert.
Government Silence and Calls for Action
The crisis is worsened by the apparent negligence of elected officials. According to community leaders, multiple letters detailing the decay have been sent to the Senator, Federal Representative, and the Local Government Area Chairman, but these pleas have yielded zero positive responses.
In a bid to avert a looming humanitarian disaster, Tracka has issued an urgent appeal to the administration of Governor Ademola Adeleke, the National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA), and the Federal Ministry of Health to intervene immediately, facilitate the total reconstruction of the Balogun PHC, and supply the necessary medical equipment for standard care.
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