Achimbi Community Faces Healthcare Crisis Amid Infrastructure Decay
Residents of the Achimbi community, located in the Kwaku ward of the Kuje Area Council, Federal Capital Territory (FCT), are voicing urgent concerns regarding the dire condition of their primary healthcare centre. The building, plagued by neglect and devoid of medical personnel, has left many community members—especially pregnant women and vulnerable groups—deprived of essential healthcare services.
During a recent visit by Abuja Metro, villagers expressed their frustrations over the healthcare facility, which has deteriorated so significantly that many are now compelled to seek medical attention in neighboring areas. Alkali Usman, a resident, articulated the challenges faced due to the lack of reliable healthcare, asserting that the community has been let down by the authorities responsible for maintaining the facility.
Originally built as part of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) initiative with World Bank support in collaboration with the FCT Administration, the healthcare centre has been left to crumble over the years. Usman described severe issues, including a damaged roof that poses risks to patient admissions during rainy weather.
Another resident, Gabriel Audi, highlighted the plight of pregnant women, who now often travel to the nearby Agweh community for antenatal care and childbirth services. Despite multiple appeals from community leaders to the area council for repairs and staffing, nothing has been done in over eight years. "We have written several times through our village head, but nothing has been done for over eight years," he lamented.
Housewife Mrs. Asabe Yakubu shared her personal experience of having to travel at night on a motorcycle to deliver her baby, emphasizing the urgent need for functional healthcare services in their community. She recounted, "It was only God that saved me. My husband had to take me on a motorcycle at night because the health centre here is no longer functional." The situation worsened further when the community's volunteer health worker left to pursue education, leading to the facility becoming overgrown with weeds and abandoned.
Village head Danjuma Yakubu explained that the healthcare facility and its adjoining staff quarters have deteriorated beyond usability, devoid of personnel and vital resources. "The staff quarters are also in a bad state. The roof and ceiling have caved in, and no one can live there," he stated.
Additionally, poorly maintained roads connecting Achimbi to neighboring Zagabutu and Agweh complicate the community's access to essential services, especially during the rainy season. "During the rainy season, we are completely cut off. It is only during the dry season that we try to fix bad portions of the road ourselves to move farm produce," he added.
In response to these pressing concerns, the village head has called on the Kuje Area Council to prioritize the rehabilitation of the health centre, the deployment of medical personnel, and the improvement of access roads.
In a statement regarding the issues raised, Mr. Isaac Manasseh, an official with the Kuje Area Council's Works Department, confirmed that the council has allocated funds for the rehabilitation of dilapidated healthcare facilities, including that of Achimbi, in its budget. He revealed that there are plans to recruit medical staff to operate these centers post-rehabilitation and mentioned ongoing efforts to enhance rural roads and construct additional bridges and culverts, with a second phase of projects set to commence soon.