The group’s report said the clinic's condition was deeply distressing, with patients forced to lie on bare floors due to the absence of mattresses or adequate bedding.
A recent inspection by MonITNG, a civic watchdog group, at the Primary Health Clinic in Rafin Kirya, Shanga Local Government Area of Kebbi State, uncovered alarming signs of neglect and deterioration, highlighting serious concerns about healthcare services in rural communities across the state.
The group’s report said the clinic's condition was deeply distressing, with patients forced to lie on bare floors due to the absence of mattresses or adequate bedding.
According to the group, the clinic lacks even the most basic amenities: medications, electricity, and running water.
According to the report, damaged ceilings have left the clinic’s wards exposed to the elements, allowing rainwater to pour in unchecked.
With no reliable electricity supply or functioning generator, even the most basic medical procedures are severely hampered, if not entirely unfeasible.
The report also notes that the clinic relies on a shallow well as its only water source, which dries up during the dry season, leaving the facility without water for several months each year.
Frustrated residents expressed their dismay, pointing out that they often have to travel over 20 kilometres to reach better-equipped health centres in neighbouring towns.
This dire situation is particularly concerning given Kebbi State’s considerable budgetary allocations to the health sector in recent years.
In 2023 alone, over N10 billion was earmarked for healthcare improvements. Yet, the stark reality at grassroots facilities like Rafin Kirya Clinic paints a very different picture, one of abandonment and unmet promises.
Despite repeated assurances in the 2024 and 2025 budgets that rural healthcare infrastructure would be improved, little appears to have changed on the ground.
For the people of Rafin Kirya and many similar communities, access to basic healthcare remains a distant dream.
In response to the alarming condition of the healthcare clinic, MonITNG raised concerns about the state government's budget implementation and accountability.
The organisation emphasised that the dire state of the health sector is even more troubling given the substantial donor funding the state has received, including contributions from the World Bank.
“Several donor-supported programs have also operated in Kebbi state, including the Basic Health Care Provision Fund (BHCPF), the World Bank’s Save One Million Lives, and even federal health interventions, but these have not reached this clinic,” MonITNG said.
“Where is the accountability for these funds?” the organisation questioned.
Calling for urgent intervention, MonITNG said, “We call on the Kebbi State Government, the National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA), and the Kebbi State Primary Healthcare Board to urgently prioritize the renovation of this clinic.
“The people of Rafin Kirya deserve clean water, functioning facilities, and dignity in healthcare. Enough of the promises. Let action begin today.”
The glaring disconnect between government spending and the lived realities of rural citizens demands urgent attention.
