Residents of Dzara community and surrounding areas in Edu Local Government Area of Kwara State have expressed outrage over the poor state of a healthcare facility serving 11 communities. The Dzara healthcare centre, which provides medical services to thousands of villagers across Kpankparagi, Funti, Guduzuru, Kpangulu, Baganko, Zanagun, Lukpete, Ebangi, Chikangi, Kpasha Woro, and Dzara, has been described as neglected and unfit for effective healthcare delivery.
Pregnant Women and Children Worst Affected
Community members reported that the centre lacks basic infrastructure, essential medical equipment, and adequate attention from authorities. Abubakar Isiak, a resident, lamented that political leaders only visit during election campaigns and urged them to witness the realities faced by ordinary people. He said, "This is the healthcare centre serving 11 communities. People are suffering here every day. Our politicians are busy with the Kwara North Agenda to steal funds while the people suffer." Pregnant women, children, and the elderly are most affected, forcing many to travel outside the community for serious medical needs. Emergencies become especially difficult at night or during the rainy season due to limited transportation.
Residents Appeal for Urgent Intervention
Isiak explained that many women are forced to travel to Lafiagi and Ilorin for hospital care because the local centre is non-functional. "We have been neglected. In the past, we lost people who needed emergency care because they died before reaching Ilorin for treatment," he added. Another resident, Zakariyawu, noted that the poor condition has discouraged early medical treatment, leading many to rely on self-medication and traditional remedies. "The majority have stopped attending this hospital because it lacks basic equipment to treat simple illnesses like cough and malaria. People now buy drugs from chemists for self-medication," he said. Residents appealed to the Kwara State Government, Edu Local Government authorities, and elected representatives to urgently rehabilitate the centre.
