By Emmanuel Umanah|Solomon OKPO
ETIM EKPO, Akwa Ibom State – Barely one year after it was commissioned with pomp, the staff quarters at the Primary Health Center, Obong Ntak, Etim Ekpo Local Government Area, have fallen into disuse, leaving community members disillusioned and health workers frustrated.
The facility, once hailed as a major achievement under the immediate past Transition Chairman, Hon. Ekpuk Esiet, now lies in neglect, overtaken by thick bushes and dangerous reptiles. Snakes, bats, and other wild creatures have taken over the premises, forcing health personnel to abandon the building and live in private residences far from the health center.
“No one wants to risk their life living here. We could wake up to snakes in our rooms,” a nurse, who preferred anonymity, told this reporter.
The dilapidated state of the premises has also discouraged patients, who now bypass the center for better-maintained facilities in Iwukem and Utu.
Community members expressed disappointment over what they describe as another example of “an abandoned finished project.”
“A health center should not look like this. We were happy when the staff quarters were commissioned, but this is not what we expected,” lamented Mr. Kufre, a resident of Obong Ntak.
Health workers revealed that several appeals have been made to the current Etim Ekpo Local Government Chairman, Mr. Gideon Uwa, for intervention, particularly in providing laborers to regularly clear the environment. However, they claim their pleas have not been heeded.
The situation highlights a recurring national challenge — poor maintenance of public projects. While government officials often celebrate new constructions with fanfare, many facilities fall into disrepair within a short time due to the absence of a structured upkeep plan.
“We prefer building new facilities rather than taking care of the ones we already have,” one resident observed.
Residents are now demanding urgent intervention from the local government to clear the bushes, fumigate the premises, and restore the staff quarters for habitation. They further call for the institutionalization of a sustainable maintenance framework to safeguard public investments in healthcare.
For the people of Obong Ntak, the message remains firm: without functional and safe facilities, healthcare delivery in rural communities will remain fragile.
“We don’t need new promises. We need the existing ones to work,” a concerned resident declared.
