FCT Healthcare Volunteers Lament Lack Of Government Support

Volunteer healthcare workers in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) have expressed concern and frustration over shouldering the burden of providing critical medical services to their communities.

Speaking to THE WHISTLER during an interview, two of the volunteers, Sam Yakubu and Luka Peter, who work with World Bank-assisted clinics in the Dokuma and Gawu communities in the Bwari Area Council, stated that the challenges are overwhelming, while calling for the government’s intervention.

Yakubu, who is a graduate of Shehu Idris College of Health, Kaduna, stated that he has been volunteering at the Dokuma clinic since its establishment in 2019.

He recounted a harrowing experience in 2022 when he collapsed while assisting a woman in labour due to exhaustion from lack of sleep and catering to over 1,000 community members.

“I was scared after that. But I had to put myself together and continue again. For me, failure is not an option. I had to encourage myself and continue,” he said.

He stated that he attends to not only his community but also seven neighbouring communities, some of which fall under Kaduna State.

Yakubu urged the government to adopt the clinic, which was established through a Community-Driven Development project, to alleviate some of the financial and administrative pressures.

The 27-year-old volunteer stated that the struggle to offer healthcare services to his people has grounded his career progress and other endeavours.

“Last year, I got admission to study Medical Laboratory Science at the University of Sokoto, but I couldn’t go because the chief and the people were crying, asking who would take care of their health needs when I leave. So I stayed back,” he said.

Also speaking, Luka Peter, a volunteer at the Gawu clinic, expressed concerns about the sustainability of healthcare services in his community.

He is worried that if he leaves, the people will suffer and be abandoned, with no one to provide antenatal care and other essential services.

“If I leave, my people will suffer, and they will be abandoned, as no government will remember that there is a community called Gawu when it comes to immunisation and distribution of drugs that are given for free.

“Pregnant women will suffer more because no one will offer them antenatal care,” the 28-year-old volunteer said.

The volunteers pleaded for the government’s support, including employment and funding, to ensure the continuity of healthcare services in their communities.

The clinic, a Community Social Development Programme (CSDP), was established through a Community-Driven Development (CDD) Approach project, where the community contributed 10 per cent of the project’s total cost.

It was part of the FCT Community and Social Development Project, a World Bank-assisted project that commenced in 2008, and additional funding was provided in 2014 (First Additional Financing) and 2016 (Second Additional Financing).

FCT Healthcare Volunteers Lament Lack Of Government Support is first published on The Whistler Newspaper