Community leaders in Ogbere, Toto Local Government Area of Nasarawa State, have appealed for urgent government action to revive a dilapidated Primary Healthcare Centre that residents say has become a serious threat to life.
Musa Jameel, a youth leader in the local government, told reporters in Lafia that the Ogbere facility, once a source of basic medical services, now lacks doctors, nurses, drugs and electricity. He said the collapse of services has contributed to avoidable deaths, particularly among pregnant women and children.
“Our mothers are dying while giving life. Our people are suffering in silence. The healthcare centre that should save lives has become a graveyard,” Jameel said, urging Governor Abdullahi Sule to direct the Nasarawa State Ministry of Health and the State Primary Health Care Development Agency to act immediately.
Nasarawa healthcare revival plan and government response
The appeal comes as the federal government, in partnership with the World Bank, has started a revitalisation programme for primary healthcare across Nasarawa State. Dr Usman Iskilu-Saleh, Executive Secretary of the Nasarawa State Primary Health Care Development Agency, said 58 PHCs have already begun revitalisation work as part of a larger plan targeting one centre in each of the state’s 147 electoral wards.
“When I say revitalisation, I simply mean that the facilities will work for 24 hours in a day. There is no time that the facilities will be closed for any reason,” Dr Iskilu-Saleh told members of the Nigeria Union of Journalists in Lafia. He added that the state government under Governor Sule is committed to upgrading dilapidated centres across the state.
Local leaders in Toto LGA want Ogbere included among the facilities scheduled for immediate renovation. Jameel, speaking on behalf of the youth of the area, outlined clear demands: prompt renovation and proper equipping of the PHC, deployment of qualified medical staff, and the establishment of 24-hour emergency services with particular emphasis on maternal and child healthcare.
These calls reflect broader concerns about access to health services in rural communities. Residents said they now travel long distances for basic treatment, increasing costs and delaying urgent care. The lack of reliable electricity and essential medical supplies were cited as major obstacles to providing emergency and routine services.
Jameel also appealed to the Chairman of Toto LGA, Pharm. Ahmed Baba Yahaya, and members of the Ogbere diaspora to support the campaign for rehabilitation. He acknowledged Yahaya’s achievements elsewhere in the LGA and urged similar attention for Ogbere, which he said has been neglected for too long.
Health officials reiterated that ongoing investments aim to ensure continuous service at revamped centres, including staffing and equipment. The state agency’s public statements suggest Nasarawa is attempting to align federal funding and international support with local needs.
For Ogbere residents the immediate priority remains tangible improvements: functioning electricity, regular supplies of medication, trained personnel on site and reliable emergency cover. As revitalisation efforts continue across the state, Ogbere’s fate will depend on whether it is included in the next phase of upgrades and on swift coordination between state, federal and donor bodies.
Until those measures are implemented, community leaders warn that lives will remain at risk and that the promise of improved healthcare will remain unfulfilled for many rural Nigerians.
Key Takeaways:
- Local youth call for urgent action on Nasarawa healthcare revival after Ogbere Primary Healthcare Centre is described as a ‘death trap’.
- Residents report no doctors, nurses, drugs or electricity, forcing long journeys for basic care.
- State and federal authorities have begun revitalisation of 58 PHCs, with a wider plan for 147 wards.
- Community leaders demand renovation, qualified staff and 24-hour emergency services, especially for maternal and child health.
