The Ogun State Government is yet to provide the people of Igbokofi, a relatively obscure border community in the Yewa North Local Government Area of Ogun State, with a functional health clinic, 11 months after a delegation from the state’s health ministry visited them.
Speaking to FIJ on Tuesday, Kunle Garb, a missionary who resides in the community, said the state government was yet to take any step in helping the inhabitants of Igbokofi after the delegation’s visit in February 2024.
“Neither the government of Ogun State nor the leader of the delegation that visited Igbokofi in February last year has reached out to us on the way forward,” said Garb.
The Interior of One of the Abandoned Health Centre in Igbokofi
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“During the delegation’s visit, the leader promised he would submit a report as soon as possible to the ministry on what he observed so that appropriate steps could be taken to bring an end to the increasing number of deaths here.
“To date, we have not heard from them. They are yet to either renovate and equip the old health care centres we already have or build us a new one.
“We presently still do not have a functional health care facility in this community, a settlement that has close to 5,000 residents living in it.
“More importantly, we have continued to suffer mortalities among our people because of lack of adequate health care.
“Igbokofi people have continued to visit clinics in the neighbouring Benin Republic for medical help. And you know, because of the recent dispute we had over territorial encroachment, their health officials have continued to exploit our people when making them pay medical bills.
“If we had our own health care centre, people would not be suffering this much to get medical care and attention. Presently, those who can’t afford the expensive treatments in Benin Republic either lean towards traditional care for cure or hope for the best while staring death in the face.
“I have written many SOS letters to the Ogun State Government in the past on this matter but they have refused to help us address our plight. I do not know what else to do. God help us.”
READ ALSO: Kunle Garb Resisted Benin Republic’s Encroachment on Nigeria’s Land. For that Reason, he was Jailed
WHEN IGBOKOFI BECAME A HOUSEHOLD NAME
In 2021, Igbokofi became a household name when news emerged that the government of Benin Republic, in a bid to illegally take over the territory from Nigeria, was harassing and indiscriminately arresting its inhabitants.
The inhabitants, through Garb, resisted Benin Republic’s illegal attempts and succeeded in helping Nigeria retain the community as part of its territory.
The inhabitants’ exploits later forced the federal government, through the National Boundary Commission (NBC), to clearly mark off settlements and lands belonging to Nigeria in the region, and this helped in fending off the Beninese government from further encroachment attempts.
HIGH MORTALITY RATE IN THE COMMUNITY
Since the 2021 boundary dispute, nothing has been done by the authorities to help meet the people of the community at their points of need, especially in the area of a well-equipped healthcare facility.
The neglect by the government has led to the deaths of pregnant women, infants and people with mild health challenges.
During FIJ’s last visit to the community, an inspection around the community captured two non-functioning and abandoned health facilities.
The stories of a victim who had lost her womb due to lack of adequate medical care, a child who had lost her mother during childbirth and a quack doctor who had abandoned a patient who needed urgent medical care to attend a party in Benin Republic were documented.
READ ALSO: Buhari Honours Nigerian Pastor Jailed in Benin Republic for Defending Nigeria’s Sovereignty
THE VISIT BY OGUN STATE HEALTH CARE OFFICIALS IN FEBRUARY 2024
FIJ’s visit to Igbokofi in February 2024 coincided with the official inspection visit made by the delegation of Ogun State health officials. The team was led by a professional simply identified as Dr Ogunsanya.
While addressing the people of Igbokofi, Ogunsanya said he had to make the visit because Tomi Coker, the state’s commissioner for health, instructed him to do so.
This was after Garb had written four SOS letters concerning the community’s health centre issues to the state government.
At the end of his address, Ogunsanya promised he would submit his report as soon as possible to the health ministry for onward review and action.
It has been close to a year since he made the promise and no attempt has been made by the state to either renovate the existing health centres in Igbokofi or build a new one.
More importantly, the people of Igbokofi still lack a functioning healthcare facility that could help prevent avoidable deaths in their community.
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