Benue Community At Risk As Mud-Brick Health Centre Rots Away Despite Billions Of Naira Allocation

The alarming situation was brought to light by a civic organisation, MonITNG (@monitng), in a post on Saturday, accompanied by pictures of the dilapidated facility.

A disturbing report has emerged exposing the agonising reality faced by over 3,000 residents of Ebenta community in the Oju Local Government Area of Benue State, who are forced to rely on a crumbling, mud-brick shack as their only primary healthcare facility.

Despite the Nigerian government’s claims of releasing billions of naira for the upgrade of Primary Health Care (PHC) centres across the country, the Ebenta PHC remains a symbol of government neglect, raising serious questions about the transparency and impact of the funds.

The alarming situation was brought to light by a civic organisation, MonITNG (@monitng), in a post on Saturday, accompanied by pictures of the dilapidated facility.

The images, seen by SaharaReporters, paint a grim picture of a facility unfit for treating sick humans. 

The exterior shows an uneven, unplastered red-brick building with peeling wooden window shutters and a faded signpost.

Inside, the conditions are even more harrowing. One room features bare, unplastered walls and an exposed wooden rafter roof covered with rusted zinc sheets. A lone, rusty hospital bed with a thin, bare mattress sits in the corner. 

A motorcycle is parked directly inside another patient area, highlighting the chaotic and unhygienic environment. 

Another room, intended for consultations or treatment, is devoid of basic medical equipment. 

Instead, its crumbling walls are plastered with faded health awareness posters, including warnings about Lassa Fever and Meningitis, masking the severe lack of actual medical care. 

The words “LABOUR ROOM” are faintly scrawled on the wall, a terrifying prospect for any expectant mother.

In an appeal, the MonITNG highlighted the life-threatening risks faced by the community, emphasizing that Ebenta is a historic community in Igede land.

“Imagine a pregnant woman in labour, a mother rushing her sick child to the hospital, or an elderly person in need of urgent medical attention. This is the facility they have to depend on for treatment,” the post read. 

“Sadly, the condition of this health centre raises serious concerns about the safety, comfort and dignity of patients. Our mothers give birth here, our children receive treatment here, and our families depend on this facility in times of sickness. Nobody should have to risk their life simply because they cannot afford to travel elsewhere for medical care.”

The post further noted that residents have tried to support the facility with their limited resources, but stressed that healthcare remains the constitutional responsibility of the government, not a burden for impoverished citizens.

The glaring neglect in Benue comes amidst a national push for healthcare revitalisation. 

The post directly questioned the whereabouts of the funds: “At a time when billions of naira are reportedly being released for the upgrade of primary healthcare centres across Nigeria, what has become of communities like Ebenta? Where is the impact of these investments on the lives of the people who need them most?”

The organisation has issued a desperate plea to Benue State Governor, Hyacinth Alia, and the Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Prof. Muhammad Ali Pate, to urgently intervene and rehabilitate the Ebenta PHC.

“We are not asking for too much. We are asking for a decent place where lives can be saved. Please help amplify this cry for help. Ebenta must not be forgotten!” the post added, alongside the hashtags #FixEbentaPHC and #FixOurPHCs.

The shocking state of the Ebenta PHC underscores the broader healthcare crisis in rural Nigeria, where millions of citizens are left to fend for themselves in dilapidated structures, despite massive budgetary allocations meant to guarantee their well-being.