Health is a precious asset that plays a vital role in our overall well-being. Despite its importance, many individuals and communities face numerous health challenges. The current hardship experienced by many has further exacerbated these challenges, making it essential to explore how people tackle their health problems.
The rising cost of medicine and healthcare services has made it difficult for people to access essential medical care. This has led to the neglect of health concerns, as people are forced to prioritize other needs over their health.
Gusau, the capital of Zamfara state like many other parts of Nigeria is not left out of the difficult economic situation confronting many Nigerians which has in turn left a negative impact on their health outcomes.
Shamsu Dahiru in this report, examines the efforts of Zakkat and Endowment Hospital in supporting the health needs of the underprivileged.
Gusau is the capital of Zamfara state, with an estimated population of 383,712 according to the 2006 census.
The state capital has 4 major hospitals to cater to residents, namely Gusau General Hospital, the Federal Medical Center, the Yariman Bakura Hospital and the Kinfahat Hospital Samuru.
These hospitals are always crowded because they do not cater to only residents of Gusau as they also attend to patients from other local government areas of Zamfara.
For instance, the Federal Medical Centre (FMC) is a 100-bed capacity hospital and is also home to a maternal and child hospital with a 100-bed capacity compared to the city’s population of over 300, 000.
In addition to the challenge of overcrowding, the cost of accessing treatment at facilities like the FMC is out of the reach of many residents of Gusau.
Malan Aliyu, who sought medical attention at the Federal Medical Centre (FMC) said he faced significant barriers due to his limited financial resources. PLAY:
But Malan Aliyu is not alone as Zamfara has the highest number of poor and vulnerable people in Nigeria, with a record of 3,836,484 people from 825,337 households, according to data from the National Social Registry.
What this means is that meeting their health needs is a luxury for many residents of the state.
It is as a means of alleviating the plight of residents that the Zakkat and Endowment hospital started operations. The Zakat and Endowment Hospital is a unique institution that provides free medical services to its patients. What sets them apart is their commitment to not collecting any fees, including: no registration fees and no filing fees for patient records. The hospital's free services are particularly beneficial to children, females and orphans.
Located in the Unguwar Yarima area of Gusau, Zamfara State, patients’ troop in from far and near Birnin Magaji, Galadima, Ungwar Yarima, Uban Dawaki, Barakallahu, Shiyar Magaji among other areas to access the services provided.
According to Aminu Salihu, Chief Medical Director the hospital boasts of a range of departments, including records, laboratory, medicine, and others which operates on an outpatient basis for most cases, providing initial treatment and stabilization for a few hours before discharging patients. PLAY:
Aminu also highlighted the hospital's facilities for women which provide specialized care and support during childbirth.
Many patients prefer this hospital due to its ease of access and welcoming atmosphere. Compared to other hospitals, this one stands out for its user-friendly services, which is why a significant number of people choose to come here, often overlooking other options.
Rashida Abbakar, is one of such patients who has benefited from the Zakkat and Endowment hospital initiative. Rashida who resides in Gusau Unguwar Yarima area of Gusau, visited the hospital due to a fever and experienced positive outcomes. PLAY:
As for Hamza Abubakar, a resident of Gadarta Baga area in Gusau, the highlight of his experience at the hospital was the absence of congestion, which he feels is a significant advantage over other hospitals. PLAY:
While Malan Aliyu, expressed gratitude for the much more accessible and user-friendly facility which helped him regain his health. PLAY:
In spite of the work done so far, Abubakar who has benefited from the initiative called for more support for the facility to enable an upgrade to handle more cases, as patients are currently not kept beyond 24 hours. PLAY:
Abubakar call for further support to expand the services as the hospital can only cater to a few patients currently.
Despite the presence of these quality hospitals, accessing free treatment can be challenging. Private organizations have reduced their support due to the high cost of living, leading to instances where patients are unable to receive timely treatment or no treatment at all as the facility can only cater to a limited number of patients.
This story was produced by Gold City Fm 105.5 in partnership with Nigeria Health Watch through the Solutions Journalism Network.*