Some expectant mothers in rural communities in Akwa Ibom State say they prefer patronising Traditional Birth Attendants to trained midwives because of the poor state maternity clinics in their areas.
A survey by Niger Delta Trust across the state showed that many Primary Healthcare Centres (PHC) are beset with myriads of problems and do not provide the services they are set up to do.
Our correspondent observed in Ifa Ikot Okpon, Etoi, many pregnant women patronise a Traditional Birth Attendant (TBA) rather than the PHC, which is just opposite it.
Some of the women said they preferred the TBA because of the professional disposition of the staff.
One of the women, Mrs Glory Peter, said: “I have five children and four of them were delivered here. I love being here anytime because Mma is very nice and experienced in maternity services.
“If you ask all of us here, you will be surprised to hear everyone speaks well about this Mma. She is caring and pays serious attention to all of us during and after labour. Her fee is affordable.’’
However, when Niger Delta Trust visited the PHC, a nurse and few others on auxiliary services complained that the facility’s electricity supply was disconnected due to non-payment of its bills.
Our correspondent reports that many PHCs in the rural communities are suffering the same fate because of years of neglect by the authorities.
At the Primary Health Centre in Ikot Akata, Mkpat Enin Local Government Area, the roof of the quarters for medical workers had long been blown away by the wind. In addition, the main hall of the centre leaks heavily when it rains, while the windows and doors have all been lost. There was no health worker at the time our correspondent visited.
In Ikot Iko, Ibesikpo Asutan Local Government Area, the only PHC in the community was in ruins while the road to the centre is difficult to move on.
In the North East Senatorial District, some of the PHCs visited were overgrown with weeds although a few others are operating.
At the Abak Primary Health Operational base, there were complaints of epileptic electricity supply, lack of water supply and good toilet facilities for patients and health workers.
The Primary Health Centre in Ewet Housing Estate, off Uruan street in Uyo, is in dire need of help. It lacks staff and drug to administer to patients.
A senior health care worker at the centre, who chose to remain anonymous told our correspondent that patients stopped coming to the centre because of poor quality of health care services, poor infrastructure, and lack of essential drugs.
At the only Primary Health Centre at Mbiabong community in Itu Local Government Area, it was gathered that the facility has not been renovated or equipped with drugs for a long time which has contributed to the low patronage of patients.
A staff who spoke on condition of anonymity described the place as a ‘glorified centre’ with little or nothing to show for as a medical facility.
“There is nothing much taking place. The drugs are always in short supply and that is the situation we have found ourselves in for a long time now. So, we prescribe for patients and ask them,” the source said.
Dr Martin Akpan, the Executive Secretary, Akwa Ibom State Primary Health Care Development Agency, said the government was aware of the deplorable conditions of the PHCs.
Akpan said with the recent interventions of the government in secondary health facilities across the state, the focus would now shift to the PHCs.
He said with the federal government’s policy of grouping Primary Health Care facilities under one umbrella and providing funds for them in states, the issues affecting PHC facilities would be taken care of.
“The most important aspect of that policy is that federal government has decided that one per cent of its consolidated revenue every quarter would now go to primary health care centres.
“The implication of that is that predictable funding is guaranteed. In our state, we are just preparing the ground for that to take off. Once that takes off, most of the problems we have mentioned is going to be addressed.
