Abandoned hospital project worsens health woes in Katsina

The abandoned hospital project, which was awarded since the late Umaru Musa Yar’adua first’s tenure as governor of the state, has become a hub for snakes and other reptiles, as the contractor handling the project has abandoned it.Some alleged that the contractor, after collecting some substantial amount of money from both the state and local […]

The abandoned hospital project, which was awarded since the late Umaru Musa Yar’adua first’s tenure as governor of the state, has become a hub for snakes and other reptiles, as the contractor handling the project has abandoned it.
Some alleged that the contractor, after collecting some substantial amount of money from both the state and local government authorities, refused to complete the project, Daily Trust gathered.
At the moment, the only health care facility available is one sick bay health outpost which is situated adjacent to the abandoned hospital in the community. This facility caters for 20 neighbouring communities, with an average population of about a million people, thereby making effective healthcare services quite difficult.
When our reporter visited the town, 50 km from Katsina town, the road drive is tedious: the only access road is in a sorry state and most sick and pregnant women have to ply it or seek care elsewhere.
Ishaq Lawal, an elderly resident of the community,  said he personally had to ferry pregnant women on donkey carts in the past and the few privileged ones on motorcycle to Kaita town where they end up being referred to Katsina General Hospital for delivery.
“The one-bed sick bay at the community can no longer cope with the increasing population. The clinic was established about 20 years ago when the late Yar’adua came on campaigns. He promised to build a new hospital which was awarded but up till now not completed,” said Lawal.
“We were joyful when we saw contractors on site,  but suddenly the project just stopped without any explanation”, said one Lawal Sarkin Dillalai who told our reporter that their hopes are fast dashing away as they rather explore other means which include traditional herbs to cure their ailments as they cannot afford to bike or trek long distances for medical care.
He continued: “Of recent there used to be some skeletal ambulance services that do come in to pick pregnant women or sick elderly to Kaita General Hospital but that has since stopped as people now resort to ferrying those in need of health care. Traditional birth attendants are being invited from places to help out as the need arises.”
A health official at the existing sick bay who spoke on the condition of anonymity said about five wards use the facility—“the so-called clinic”—which is greatly inadequate to cope with the growing population. This was the main reason for the agitation for the new one which is bigger and can accommodate large turnout but you can see the sorry state it is in.”
A youth leader in the community, Abdulaziz Magaji, said the need for its completion is enormous giving its economic value to the area just as he called on the local government to invoke enquiries into the issue with a view to seeing the building to its logical conclusion for the benefit of the affected people.
“It is a hospital that will enhance safe delivery for women and children; other parts of the state have been enjoying theirs since the past five years but we are left behind, go to Abukur town, theirs is up and running perfectly,” he added
Investigation revealed that the abandoned hospital was awarded to address the growing need of health challenges following complaints from the communities.
This prompted the then governor to ask the local government to liaise with the ministry for local government as the expenditure exceeded the expenses of the council. It was approved and awarded only for the contractor to abandon it half way and relocate from site.
The dual status of the hospital is another case of concern as to who owns it between the state or the local government given the circumstances the contract was given.
However the state Commissioner for Health Mannir Talba said for the past two years as head of the ministry, this is the first time he is coming across the issue when our reporter confronted him over the delay in its completion.
He promised to make enquiries with a view to addressing the issue given the importance the administration attached to health care delivery.
On his part, the Kaita Local Government Chairman Ibrahim Lawal Dankaba said already the council has mandated its director of works to look into the matter and report back its findings for proper actions by the council.
According to him, the council received several complaints and preliminary reports showed that the project was duly awarded and money released.
He added that the project was even reviewed again but to no avail, saying, “We have equally written to the ministry for local government on the issue for further advice just as efforts are been made to reach the contractor as to the reasons for non completion.
He said, “All efforts to reach the contractor to get his side of the story over the issue proved abortive.”
“Now that the matter has been revealed it is only proper for the two warring parties to unite and see to the completion of the project which will greatly save lives especially that of pregnant women and children,” he added.