Plateau Residents Decries Poor State of PHC, Task Lawmaker on Completion of Constituency Projects before May 29
By Daniel Agada,Jos
Barely few weeks to the end of the present government in Plateau State, residents has raised concern over poor state of Primary Healthcare (PHC) delivery in the state.
A case at hand is the ongoing building construction of a clinic in Dogon Agogo, Ibrahim Katsina ward of Jos North Local Government Area, initiated by Hon. Ibrahim Baba Hassan, a member representing Jos North-North constituency in the Plateau State House of Assembly.
Plateau state Team Impact of Accountability Lab Nigeria, Open Contracting Partnership who were at the construction site recently, learned that the project which was embarked upon about three years ago by the said Lawmaker; the company handling construction work at the site and the bill of quantity is not known by the community members.
Speaking about state of happenings on the clinic, a Nurse, Hannatu Semshak, officer in charge of PHC Dogon Agogo, Ibrahim Katsina who took over mantle of leadership of the clinic in January 2023, said they were promised that they will come and commission the facility since February 2023 but up to now the clinic is not ready for commissioned.
“I am not happy as nurse, health worker to stay in a congested environment. Just recently, we said if anything like Lassa fever or any infectious disease come in here, and because of the congestion of the people most people would be affected and infected at the same time.
“So, my plea to the owners of this building is that they should speed up, so that the work should be done and have enough space at the clinic.
Hanatu who confirmed that the Dogon Agogo PHC which is a referral unit needs manpower and equipments in the facility to function effectively, calling on the government to do the needful.
“We definitely need medical equipments such as beds, examination beds; government should help with medical Doctor on ground to help in case there is an emergency surgery to be conducted.
“We also need oxygen cylinder and some of the equipments for the operation, and ambulance because what we had is motorcycle that the state government gave us.
Ibrahim Katsina ward head, Ibrahim Bala Ibrahim, said he don’t know the company and contractor handling the project.
“I don’t know the contractor handling the project and because there is no any signboard showing the name of the company doing the Job. I don’t know how much the project cost. It is only Hon.Baba Hassan and the contractor that have knowledge of the project exact amount.
The ward head pleaded with the Lawmaker to come and complete the assignment he has started before exiting office on 29th May, 2023.
Also,the woman leader Ibrahim Katsina ward, Ashafawu Kalid appealed, saying they are anxious to see the work completed so that women will have their own ward, likewise men and children to reduce congestion, and disease that may likely occurred.
An anonymous source who spoke to Team Impact, said the contractor complaint of lack of funds which is delaying the completion of the work.
According to him, that the contractor admitted they are expecting money from government but government said they don’t have enough money, and they want to pay workers salaries before giving them money to continue with the project.
Efforts to get Hon.Baba Hassan reactions not yield fruitful result.
Baba Hassan who is chairman house committee on Local government and chieftaincy affairs said to be a longest serving Lawmaker in the history of Plateau State House of Assembly. He contested for Jos North/Bassa Federal House of Representative seat in February 25th general elections and lost to opposition PDP.
