FCT residents seek improved medical services in rural communities

On Apr 8, 2024

Some residents of Bwari Area Council of the FCT have called on government at all levels to ensure improved medical services at health centres located within rural communities.

The residents made the call in separate interviews with the Newsmen on Sunday in Abuja, while commemorating the International World Health Day (WHD).

This year’s WHD theme is ‘My Health, My Right.’

Mr John Awoyi, Youth leader, Bwari Youth Forum, said that good health was paramount to any individual and therefore, must be every administrators’ number one priority for its people.

According to him, this year’s theme says my health, my right, pointing the right of every individual whether rich or poor, in the urban area or in the rural area, to access good health services.

“It is therefore important that our various leaders at all levels, from the Federal level to the local government authorities, to ensure that the needs of the people in these areas, are improved.

“This should be in the provisions of increased manpower at the primary health centres, medical equipment, access to drugs, refurbished facilities, constant power supply among other necessities.

“It is very important that those in rural communities receive these services because they are more prone to infections and diseases and deserved urgency in curbing most communicable diseases.”

Awoyi, while quoting reports by the World Health Organisation (WHO), also said that it was sad to note that the right to health was, unfortunately coming under a threat to millions around the world and not Nigeria alone.

He, therefore, called on stakeholders in the country, with emphasis on the health sector, to double their efforts towards ensuring that all hands were on deck to achieving a healthy people.

Similarly, Mrs Esther Bako, another resident also called on the council’s administration to enhance services at designated primary health centres in the district.

Bako, who is also a medical practitioner, sought the council’s indepth consideration towards providing work tools and more professional hands at the centres to help attend to the increasing populace.

She said that the economic challenges have had much impact on a lot of people thereby, causing death, pain, hunger and psychological distress among individuals and families, especially those in rural areas.

This, she added, might keep increasing if necessary measures were not put in place to address and attend to the challenges at hand.

Bako, while commending the council for a significant progress in various immunisation exercises, urged for enhancement of skills of the health workers in the area for better service delivery.

Mr John Gabaya, Chairman, Bwari Area Council had reiterated that his administration was dedicated to ensuring improved health management in all the communities of the council.

He had said that under the year 2023 review, his administration had provided health care services to the grassroot inline with its mandate.

This, he had explained was especially with regards to implementation of several rounds of National immunisation activities and programmes covering the whole council throughout the year.

He said it included the implementation of programmes for the control of Lassa fever outbreak, cholera and other gastro -enteritis diseases in the council and the impact has been huge and effective.

“It is our responsibility and the right of the people and we are bent on ensuring that we provide a healthy people within a healthy community and the society at large.”

Gabaya also said that his administration also implemented the measles vaccination campaigns, maternal, newborn and child health programmes across the district for the benefit of residents.

He added that hospital and clinical equipment were also supplied to some Primary Health Centres, while adding that renovation of some, were ongoing.

The World Health Day, as globally celebrated by WHO, is annually observed to raise awareness about global health issues and highlight the importance of well-being.

The 2024 theme had emphasis on the fundamental human right to access quality health care, education and information as well as safe drinking water and clean air.

It also includes good nutrition, quality housing, decent working and environmental conditions, and freedom from discrimination.

NAN/Wumi