The Guto Community, in Bwari Council of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) has called on the government to provide a health centre for them to reduce the high rate of preventable deaths in the area.
The Community leader, Timothy Tiyok told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Friday in Guto that their major problem was conveying sick persons to Bwari General Hospital for medical attention.
According to him, the distance from the community to the council headquarters is not long, but the deplorable state of the road has been the major challenge.
“The distance is not that far, but the road is in a bad shape. It is usually very hard to find a vehicle to convey the sick to the hospital,’’ he said.
Tiyok said that many pregnant women and those with life-threatening diseases or sicknesses had died before they could get to the hospital, especially during the rainy season.
He, therefore, appealed to the council and the FCT minister to ensure the construction of a health care centre in the area, and also rehabilitate the road.
A women leader in the area, Mrs. Mariam Kato, said she was a victim when she had her last pregnancy five years ago, as there was no vehicle to convey her to the general hospital for delivery.
“My husband could not get a vehicle to take me to the hospital; we resorted to using a motorcycle. By the time we reached the hospital, l had lost a lot of blood.
“The doctor said I was just lucky that we arrived at the time I came, as I would have lost the pregnancy and my life.
“There were about six pregnant women who lost their lives and pregnancies because they could not reach the hospital in time,’’ she said.
Kato said that if government would provide a health facility and repair the road, it would go a long way in reducing the hardship, not only for them but for the Fulani herdsmen around them.
She said that some of the residents had resorted to using herbs for treating their sick ones instead of going to the hospital.
Also speaking, the youth leader, Mr. Danlami Dogo, said the youths were working out an arrangement with motorcycle operators to respond to sick persons during crisis.
“We have also met with the council Chairman, Mr. Peter Yohana, who promised to look into the problem,’’ he said.
NAN reports that there are five health centres in the area council, which have not been put to use after their inauguration two years ago. (NAN)
