Abuja: Residents of the Wassa Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) Camp in the Federal Capital Territory have appealed to the Abuja Municipal Area Council (AMAC) to reopen the Primary Health Care (PHC) centre in the camp. The facility, which serves as the community’s only formal healthcare point, has remained closed since 2022, leaving residents, especially women and children, without access to essential medical services.
According to News Agency of Nigeria, the centre was initially donated in 2016 by former Speaker of the House of Representatives, Mr Yakubu Dogara, to serve as the camp’s primary healthcare facility. However, it was shut down following a dispute between residents and a doctor assigned to the facility by the FCT Administration. The disagreement led to the withdrawal of the doctor and the subsequent closure of the centre.
Residents admitted to their involvement in the incident and submitted letters of apology as requested, yet the PHC remains closed. The closure has exacerbated health challenges in the camp, particularly affecting women and children. Findings from the 2024 Nigeria Demographic and Health Survey (NDHS) revealed that only 46 percent of births nationwide are attended by skilled health providers, with vaccination gaps widening, and zero-dose children rising to 30 percent. The survey further highlighted a decline in treatment-seeking for childhood illnesses, increasing vulnerabilities for children in underserved communities.
Camp residents like Malam Usman Ibrahim, Vice Chairman of the camp, expressed struggles in accessing basic healthcare since the closure. The lack of access to care has become a significant burden, forcing residents to travel long distances for treatment or rely on unregulated providers. Ibrahim recalled past disease outbreaks, such as cholera, that resulted in the loss of 12 children and several pregnant women during childbirth. He urged AMAC to reopen the facility and provide necessary medical staff and supplies.
Mrs Hafsatu Haman, Women Leader of the camp, noted that the closure had worsened the economic and health conditions of families, with children often lacking proper nutrition. She appealed to the government, organizations, and philanthropists to support families with livelihood opportunities to help reduce malnutrition and school dropout rates.
Attempts by News Agency of Nigeria to reach AMAC officials for comments on the prolonged closure of the PHC were unsuccessful. Camp residents stressed the urgency for reopening the centre or providing an alternative facility to address maternal and child health needs.