A cross-section of the residents of Bwari Area Council in the FCT, Abuja has appealed to government at all levels to make healthcare services affordable in rural communities.
The people made the appeal on Monday in separate interviews with The Tide’s source in Bwari, Abuja.
They argued that affordable healthcare for rural dwellers would help to encourage the people to patronise health facilities when they fall sick.
A security man, Mr Johnathan Awayi, said that many families in the rural parts of the counci were finding it difficult to access health services because of cost.
Awayi further said that many had lost their loved ones “because their relatives could not afford high medical bills” charged to treat serious ailments.
According to him, serious health challenges are also beyond the capacity of the primary health centers situated in the communities.
“When you visit a health center close to you, thinking your problem is malaria or typhoid and they run tests and find out it is more than that they refer you to a bigger hospital.
“Sometimes, even the transportation to the hospital becomes a problem.
“Moreover, when you get there, they subject you to more tests, which costs more money.
“It is even worse, when you are admitted because the cost of admission per night in a general hospital here is not what a rural dweller can afford”, Awayi said.
He further said some people return home to their fate once they have a referral to another hospital for a broader check on their health status and at the end of the day, they die without medical attention.
“Some cannot even afford to pay for routine tests or minor surgeries in government-owned hospitals, let alone the private ones.
“Things are really hard now so government and private hospitals should help the rural dwellers by subsidising the cost of medicare for them”, Awayi said.
Also, a house wife and mother of four, Madam Esther Jonah, said that she lost her baby because she could not afford to pay for incubator, when she had a premature delivery.
Jonah said, “My husband is a labourer, who earns daily income and has no savings to cater for such an emergency, when it happened”.
She also frowned at the “insultive attitude” of some health workers towards the poor and vulnerable at public health fscilities.
“The attitude of some of these health workers is barbaric and make some sick persons to go home out of frustration”, she said.
Jonah admonished health workers to show sympathy and empathy to the sick rather them mock them.
“The attitude of health workers matter a lot.
“They need reorientation on how to relate with patients battling with severe health cases”, she said, adding that “some of them, especially the women, can be inconsiderate and unreasonable.

“At least, even if someone cannot afford something, don’t rub it on their faces.

“Instead, find a means of helping them and not make them regret coming to the clinic”, she said.

Mr Yakubu Sabo said subsidising the cost of health care, including child delivery, would help to address child and maternal mortality in rural communities.

Sabo said: “I know some of us in the rural area need to be educated on family planning for birth control because we cannot afford the cost that comes with delivery sometime.

“However, in cases where the unplanned happens, I plead for assistance from the health providers.

“Let’s not be tired in doing good. Nothing is easy and I don’t pray for anyone to go to the hospital for anything now, I advise everyone to watch their lifestyle”, he said.

A health worker in Sabon-Gari area of the district, Mrs Deborah Gwazah, blamed some of the challenges in the healthcare services at the community level on the lack of sufficient medical personnel and facilities.

Reacting to the issue, the Chairman of Bwari Area Council, Mr John Gabaya, reaffirmed his administration’s resolve to continue to provide improved healthcare services in all the communities in the area.

Gabaya said in 2022, his administration organised a free medical outreach for the people of the area in line with the council’s mandate.

He also said that his administration implemented various vaccination campaigns, maternal, newborn and child health programmes across the district.