In Gidan Dabi, a rural community in Augie Local Government Area of Kebbi State, residents are enduring heartbreaking conditions at their only primary health centre. Patients in need of care are left to sit or lie on bare floors because the facility lacks basic furniture, while health workers struggle without essential medical equipment.
The disturbing situation was recently exposed by MonITNG, a civic accountability organisation that described the centre as a “glaring symbol of neglect.” The group’s findings revealed a waiting area with almost no seats, forcing the sick and their relatives to either stand for hours or squeeze onto makeshift benches before receiving attention.
MonITNG further noted that the health workers, though committed, are severely handicapped by the absence of critical tools such as examination couches and diagnostic instruments. “This is more than an issue of poor infrastructure; it shows how misplaced governance priorities are endangering lives,” the organisation stated.
Residents say trust in the facility has collapsed. Many avoid the centre altogether, preferring to travel long distances for treatment, even in emergencies. The group warned that this neglect is worsening preventable illnesses and pushing vulnerable families into deeper financial strain.
Calling for urgent government intervention, MonITNG urged authorities to provide furniture, modern medical tools, and adequate staffing to restore the centre’s capacity. “Primary healthcare is not a luxury; it is a fundamental right,” the group said. “Leaving this facility in such disrepair risks the health of mothers, children, and the elderly who depend on it.”
For the people of Gidan Dabi, the message is clear: without immediate action, their only hope for accessible healthcare may completely collapse.