Buhari Abba
In a heartbreaking and deeply tragic turn of events, 55-year-old Hajara Umar lost her beloved daughter, Bilkisu Umar, during a desperate journey from Baita Community in Gezawa Local Government to a hospital in Minjibir. Bilkisu, who had faced the sorrow of previous miscarriages, had hoped this time would be different. She came to stay with her mother in anticipation of delivering her long-awaited twins.
“My daughter is gone!” Hajara lamented through her tears. “She had carried her first baby safely, but the second wouldn’t come out. As we rushed to the hospital in Minjibir, she passed away helplessly on the way. Now she’s no more.”
The pain of losing a daughter in such circumstances is immeasurable, leaving behind a void that no words can fill.
Maternal mortality has become a grim reality in Kano’s rural communities, which are characterized by lack of functional healthcare facilities and inadequate Nurses, Doctors and health professionals. These communities, including Baita, face a myriad of health challenges ranging from infectious diseases to maternal and child health issues.
Baita, a farming community in the western part of Gezawa Local Government, is currently experiencing a healthcare crisis, reflecting the broader issue of overstretched primary healthcare centers across rural areas of the state. With a population of over 10,000, the community relies on a single hospital bed in a rented room provided by Hajiya Zuwaira Baita after the original healthcare facility fell into disrepair.
The Decline of Healthcare in Baita
The healthcare center in Baita was originally constructed in 1992 during the administration of former Kano State Governor Arch. Kabiru Ibrahim Gaya. However, years of neglect have left the facility in ruins, overtaken by rodents, dogs, and insects, making it unusable for medical purposes. Manned by just two community health workers, the hospital lacks basic supplies, including medications to treat common ailments like malaria and typhoid. With only one hospital bed to serve over 10,000 residents, the facility is woefully inadequate.
Malam Alkasim Isyaku, the Ward Head of Baita, lamented the situation: “It is heartbreaking to see a healthcare center that was once a symbol of hope for our community now reduced to ruins. The building is completely taken over by animals, and it is unsafe for any medical activity. We have been abandoned for too long, and our people are suffering.”
A Community’s Desperation
With the original healthcare center in disrepair, the community has turned to a temporary solution. Hajiya Zuwaira Baita provided her home—a mud-built structure with just one room and a parlor—as a makeshift clinic. Here, over 10,000 people from Baita and nearby communities seek medical care in conditions that are far from ideal.
“I couldn’t stand by and watch our people suffer without any form of healthcare,” Hajiya Zuwaira said. “I decided to offer what I have, but this is not enough. We need a proper healthcare facility that can serve the entire community. Every day, I see women, children, and the elderly struggling to get medical attention in this tiny space.”
The Impact on Neighboring Communities
Baita’s healthcare crisis has affected residents from surrounding areas, including Ungogo and Minjibir Local Governments. Communities such as Koya, Daurawa, Gargari, and Farawa depend on Baita’s makeshift clinic, forcing many to resort to herbal remedies and traditional methods, increasing the risks of complications.
Magaji Abdulrahman, a resident from Daurawa, expressed his frustration: “We are forgotten. Every time someone in our family falls sick, we have to travel long distances to find proper care, and even then, the conditions are not ideal. This is a human rights issue; we deserve better healthcare services.”
Calls for Government Intervention
The residents of Baita and neighboring communities are calling for urgent government intervention to rebuild their healthcare center. The overcrowding, lack of medical supplies, and reliance on one hospital bed are unsustainable, and the community’s health continues to suffer.
“Attending to the hundreds of patients who visit this place from over ten communities has been very stressful,” said one of the health workers, who spoke on the condition of anonymity. “Sometimes, when there are too many cases for us to handle, especially women on the verge of delivery, we advise them to go to other hospitals outside the locality. As a result, many women now give birth at home.”
The lack of basic infrastructure, including toilets, water, and electricity, adds to the challenges. “If a woman is to be delivered of a baby in the night, the community relies on traditional birth attendants, as the hospital does not function 24 hours,” the health worker added. “We are pleading with the government to intervene quickly and provide the people of this area with good healthcare to save lives.”
Malam Alkasim Isyaku echoed the call for action: “The government must remember its responsibility to the people. We need urgent intervention to restore the healthcare facility in Baita and bring relief to our community. This is not just about healthcare; it’s about the dignity and survival of our people.”
Rabi’u Abdulmumini Baita, another community member, stressed the need for better healthcare for women and children: “Pregnant women and young children are particularly vulnerable. Without access to proper care, we are left to fend for ourselves. It is not enough for the government to make promises; we need action.” He added, “Several of our women have died while being rushed to the hospital in Minjibir Local Government.”
The Broader Healthcare Crisis
Baita’s healthcare crisis is a stark reminder of the challenges faced by rural communities in Kano State. With over 10,000 residents relying on one hospital bed in a rented room, the system is on the verge of collapse. The voices of the people, from Hajiya Zuwaira to the Ward Head, highlight the need for government intervention to restore dignity and provide essential healthcare services.
Public Affairs Analyst Malam Ado Bello Kurawa highlighted additional challenges during a discussion with Kano Times. “Kano’s rural communities suffer from a severe shortage of healthcare professionals, including doctors, nurses, and midwives,” he said. “Many healthcare workers prefer to practice in urban areas or migrate abroad in search of better opportunities, leaving rural health facilities understaffed and overburdened.”
Bello Kurawa added, “The inadequacy of medical infrastructure in Kano’s rural communities has dire consequences for maternal and child health. Pregnant women often lack access to skilled birth attendants, increasing the risk of maternal and neonatal complications.” The absence of well-equipped neonatal and pediatric units further exacerbates the situation, leaving infants vulnerable to preventable diseases.
As a result, maternal and child mortality rates remain high, perpetuating a cycle of poor health outcomes and economic hardship for families.
Healthcare Funding Drops as Non-Essential Spending Dominates 2024 Budget
Kano State’s recently approved 2024 budget reflects a concerning shift in healthcare prioritization, with non-essential spending consuming a large portion of the allocation. For the last four years (2019-2023), Kano consistently met and exceeded the Abuja Declaration’s target of allocating 15% of its budget to healthcare. However, the 2024 budget slashes healthcare funding to just N34 billion (7.7%), down from an initially proposed N51.4 billion (14.7%), marking a stark departure from previous commitments.
This drastic reduction raises questions about the state’s dedication to healthcare development. Recurrent expenditures, including salaries and administrative costs, absorb a staggering 38% of the budget, leaving little room for critical capital investments that could improve healthcare infrastructure.
Simultaneously, significant funds have been earmarked for non-essential projects. For example, N5.32 billion is set aside for meals and renovations at the Government House, including N800 million for renovating the governor’s office, N500 million for his personal residence at Kwankwasiyya City, and N200 million for constructing a new lodge in the same area. The total allocation for Government House expenses is over N3.72 billion, with N2.5 billion for recurrent costs and N1.56 billion for overheads.
Additionally, N775 million is allocated for refreshments, N77 million for local training, N90 million for fuel and lubricants, and N1 billion for other capital expenditures. Despite these large allocations for non-essential expenses, the healthcare budget continues to face significant cuts.
The Abuja Declaration, signed in 2001, committed African nations to allocate at least 15% of their annual budgets to health. Kano exceeded this target for several years, with health sector allocations rising from 6% in 2014 to 17% by 2022. Yet, the 2024 budget represents a sharp reversal of this progress, threatening to undermine the state’s healthcare system just when sustained investments are needed most.