Outcry as Residents Lament Deplorable Condition of Kogi State Hospital in Okpo

The Kogi State General Hospital in Okpo in Olamaboro Local Government once a beacon of hope for medical care in the region, has become a source of despair for residents due to its worsening state. Patients and their relatives have decried the unhygienic conditions, with reports of unbearable stench, maggot infestations, and a general state of decay. The outcry has intensified, with calls for urgent government intervention to prevent a full-scale health crisis.

A Facility in Ruins

A visit to the hospital paints a grim picture of neglect. The wards are in disrepair, ceilings are leaking, and beds meant for patient care are broken and riddled with filth. The hospital lacks basic sanitation, with overflowing toilets and waste piling up in different corners of the facility. The environment is so unhygienic that it poses a serious risk of spreading diseases, particularly among vulnerable patients.

Patients receiving treatment at the hospital complain of worsening health conditions due to the unhygienic environment. Many have no choice but to endure, as they cannot afford expensive private healthcare facilities. Some prefer to self-medicate at home, fearing that a visit to the hospital might expose them to more harm than good.

One distressed mother, Mrs. Ajene Ichado, shared her ordeal. “I brought my child here for treatment, but the sight that greeted me was heartbreaking. The whole place reeks of a foul odor, and I even saw maggots near some of the wards. The beds are so dirty that I had to lay my own wrapper for my child to sleep on. How can a hospital be in such a terrible state?” she questioned angrily.

A local resident, Musa Audu, expressed deep frustration over the government’s failure to maintain the facility. “This hospital serves a large number of people in this community, yet look at the condition. The roofs are leaking, doctors are struggling without proper equipment, and patients are being treated in inhumane conditions. This is unacceptable. The government must act now!”

Health Workers Struggle Amidst Decay

Medical staff at the hospital are also bearing the brunt of the neglect. A nurse, who spoke on condition of anonymity, revealed that the hospital is grossly underfunded, making it difficult for them to provide quality healthcare services.

“We do our best with what we have, but the truth is, we are working under impossible conditions. The equipment is outdated, and in some cases, we don’t even have the necessary drugs to treat patients. Many of us have to improvise or refer patients to other hospitals, which is frustrating. We have raised these concerns several times, but nothing has been done,” she lamented.

Doctors and nurses at the facility have called on the government to intervene urgently, warning that the current state of the hospital could lead to widespread disease outbreaks if nothing is done.

Calls for Government Action

The deplorable state of the Kogi State Hospital in Okpo has sparked outrage across the community, with residents demanding immediate government intervention. Many believe that healthcare should be a top priority for the government, and the neglect of such a critical facility reflects a lack of commitment to public health.

“We need Governor Usman Ododo and the Kogi State Ministry of Health to step in and address this issue immediately,” said community leader Chief Gabriel Ocholi. “This is a medical emergency, and our people deserve better. We cannot continue to risk lives due to neglect and poor governance.”

Residents have called on relevant authorities to:

Conduct an urgent rehabilitation of the hospital’s infrastructure.

Improve sanitation and waste disposal to prevent the spread of infections.

Provide adequate funding for medical supplies and modern equipment.

Increase the number of healthcare workers to improve service delivery.

The situation at the hospital has also drawn the attention of civil society organizations and health advocates, who are calling for accountability from the state government. Many argue that healthcare funding should be transparent, and the government must ensure that funds allocated for hospitals are used for their intended purpose.

A Disaster Waiting to Happen?

With the worsening conditions at the hospital, experts warn that if urgent action is not taken, the situation could spiral into a full-scale health disaster. Already, cases of infections and preventable deaths have been reported due to inadequate healthcare services.

Residents are now calling on the state government, health ministry, and relevant agencies to act swiftly before the situation deteriorates further. Many believe that the government’s response to this crisis will be a test of its commitment to the well-being of the people.

For now, the people of Okpo can only hope that their voices will be heard before the situation at the Kogi State Hospital turns into a full-blown tragedy.