Imo state has been flooded with disease

Imo state has been flooded with disease

A group, Connected Development (CODE), has lamented the lack of basic requirements in many primary healthcare centres (PHCs) in Imo State, saying its findings reveal that a vast number of health centres in the state lack doctors, nurses, toilets, chairs, beds or drugs.

Team Lead, CODE – Imo State, Dr Chigozirim Akudo Osuji, stated this on Thursday during a town hall meeting in Okwu Uratta Primate Health Center in Owerri North local government area of the State.

She said, “The poor state of Primary Health Centres in Imo has left the populace of many communities vulnerable to diseases with attendant high maternal and infant mortality rates.”

Osuji said, “From the comprehensive report on the outreach for COVID-19 vaccines in Primary Health Care Centres (PHCs) held in four communities in Owerri and Orlu Senatorial Zones of Imo State, we gathered that the building housing the some PHC’s especially Ohoba at the moment are dilapidated, no toilet facilities of any sought, no access to clean water. The Ohoba PHC is not connected to any national grid and has no alternative power supply. Other hospital facilities like bed, delivery board etc. are all outdated and in very bad conditions.”

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She said, “Many of the PHCs are understaffed with dilapidated infrastructure, they don’t have electricity, access to clean water and capacity to host, store and administer vaccines”

The Team Lead made a passionate appeal to the government to assist Ohoba Primary Health Care Centre (PHC) established in the late 1960s.

She explained that the body’s evaluation of the PHCs was informed by its ‘Follow the Money’ project assessment tour of different centres in the state to ascertain if they met the minimum standard.

She called for increased intervention, community support and participation in governance process and running of healthcare centres in the state.

Osuji added, “This meeting is to bring these problems to the notice of government and community leaders so as to ensure that PHCs maintain minimum standards as stipulated by the agency.”

Goddy Nzekwu, Ohoba Health Centre, Ohaji -Egbema Local Government Area of Imo State on his part, said some communities had been responsible for payment of salaries of cleaners and security guards in their PHCs.

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