As the officer in charge of the Sabo Primary Health Centre, Matron Akande Akinlabi has witnessed firsthand the transformation of the facility she has diligently served for years. However, the excitement of a recent renovation has turned into a troubling reality.
“The renovation is a good one and I find it commendable, however, I think the government should look into the status now and help intervene to ensure our delivery of health services is better,” she said, using a piece of paper to fan herself.
Sabo Health Care Centre was commissioned in 2004 by the then-governor of Oyo State, Adewolu Ladoja. It was meant to serve an estimated 5,000 population in the Sabo community. The state of the health centre has been in disrepair over the years until 2021 when N22.5 million was allocated for the renovation and expansion of the health centre. The project was aimed at improving healthcare services for the local community.
The project, which commenced in 2021 and was completed in 2022, included the addition of a pharmacy, a borehole, and a labour room, among other facilities. However, less than a year after its completion, the quality of the work done is under intense scrutiny as staff and community members are increasingly concerned about the quality of the renovation, with numerous issues surfacing less than a year after the project’s completion.
During a recent visit by UDEME to the health centre, noticeable flaws were evident. Peeling paint on the walls and malfunctioning ceiling fans are among the most glaring issues, raising doubts about the quality of materials used and the overall execution of the project.
Mrs Akinlabi, the officer in charge of the health centre, expressed her mixed feelings as she questioned the quality of the work done. “There are improvements. We had one ward for male and female patients, but now we have separate rooms for each. However, the quality of the renovation brings questions. The peeling walls and broken fans are something of concern for us. We expected better quality work given the amount allocated for the project,” she said.
Salisu Mikhail, who introduced himself as the Ward Development Committee Chairman of the health centre, pointed out issues with the building’s exterior.
“The fencing of the health centre and the tiling are part of the renovation. However, the peeling walls make us question the quality of the materials used. In less than a year, we are already seeing these problems,” he said, pointing to the peeling walls of the fencing at the back of the clinic.
Mrs Akinlabi further discussed the issue of the non-functional fans. “We had ceiling fans before the renovation, but standing fans were provided after. They stopped working after a few months. Despite multiple repairs, we eventually had to pack them up and store them because they couldn’t be fixed,” she said.
Jahman Bawa, a regular visitor to the health centre, shared his experience: “The renovation was commendable, and I come here often for treatment. However, the waiting room is uncomfortable without a fan, especially in this hot weather. It would have been better if there was a fan here,” he said.
Corroborating that, Isah Muhammad, a patient who is just convalescing, said he left his bed to sit in the reception due to the heat in the room.
Mrs Akinlabi elaborated further on the issue of the non-functional fans. “We had ceiling fans before the renovation, but standing fans were provided after. They stopped working after a few months. Despite multiple repairs, we eventually had to pack them up and store them because they couldn’t be fixed,” she said.
Jahman Bawa, a regular visitor to the health centre, shared his experience: “The renovation was commendable, and I come here often for treatment. However, the waiting room is uncomfortable without a fan, especially in this hot weather. It would have been better if there was a fan here,” he said.
Corroborating that, Isah Muhammad, a patient who is just convalescing, said he left his bed to sit in the reception due to the heat in the room.
