Concerns Grow Over Inadequate Health Facilities in FCT Community

Residents of the Agweh community located in the Kwaku ward of the Kuje Area Council, Federal Capital Territory (FCT), have raised alarms regarding a severe shortage of bed space at their local healthcare facility.

During a visit from Abuja Metro on Tuesday, residents voiced their frustrations about the clinic, which is equipped with only one bed.

The single bed, they explained, is utilized by all patients, including pregnant women who require checkups or are in labor.

The situation becomes particularly dire when numerous patients arrive simultaneously, all seeking urgent medical attention.

Community member Usman Adamu informed our reporter that the lack of adequate space forces some patients to be treated on mats due to the scarcity of beds.

“Even during emergencies, especially in times of disease outbreaks, it is nearly impossible for patients to find a bed and receive care from medical personnel,” Adamu remarked.

In addition to the bed shortage, the health center is reportedly in a state of significant disrepair. Adamu pointed out that the ceilings and various other components of the facility have been neglected for many years.

He shared that the clinic has not undergone any renovations since its establishment over 18 years ago during the former council chairmanship of Senator Usman Jibrin Wowo.

“As you can see, this center was built during Senator Wowo’s era nearly two decades ago, and there has been no maintenance since,” he added.

Another resident, Dantani Musa, emphasized the issue of inadequate medical supplies, mentioning that the clinic frequently runs out of essential medications.

Patients regularly receive prescriptions and must undertake motorcycle rides to Kwaku to procure their medications, he noted.

“In many instances, the only medical staff resorts to using personal funds to stock up on medicines, with patients reimbursing him afterward,” Musa disclosed, also highlighting a troubling staff shortage at the facility.

The clinic currently lacks official personnel or nurses; instead, it is managed by a single volunteer from the community who provides care for all patients.

Shuaibu Danjuma, another community leader, observed that while the clinic sufficed upon its inception 20 years ago, the population has dramatically increased.

“It is hard to believe that a clinic with just one bed is meant to serve this entire area. Given the population growth, expansion of this facility is long overdue,” Danjuma remarked.

He also mentioned that the clinic caters not only to Agweh but also to four neighboring villages and local Fulani settlements.

Danjuma urged the authorities of the Kuje Area Council, along with the incoming chairman, to collaborate with the FCT Administration to construct a modern healthcare facility.

Addressing Water Scarcity

In addition to health concerns, Danjuma raised an alarm about the lack of clean drinking water in the community.

Agweh relies exclusively on hand-dug wells, as there are no functioning boreholes or overhead tanks made available by the government.

“Our women depend on well water or must travel long distances to fetch water from streams,” he explained.

Musa echoed this concern, urging the council to prioritize the drilling of a borehole to mitigate the community's water crisis.

Responding to these grievances, a senior official from the council’s Works Department, who requested anonymity, stated that the renovation of the health center and the drilling of a borehole have been included in the current budget allocated for Agweh and its surrounding areas.