REPORT
OF THE TOWN HALL MEETING ON THE STATE OF AKAMA PUBLIC HEALTH CENTER AT NGWO UNO
COMMUNITY TOWN HALL, AMANKWO, UDI LGA, ENUGU STATE
BY: NEBO OBINNA COLLINS
(CODE Community Reporter Enugu)
Akama Public Health
Center is very strategic; its existence has been managed by the three
autonomous communities that made up Ngwo Uno, which includes: Amankwo
community, Amaeke community and Uboji community.
Akama Public Health
Center also render services to accident victims along Ugwu-Onyeama Highway, Agu-Abor
community in Enugu East Local Government Area, Fulani people living at Ngwo
Hills, Ngwo Asaa, and Iva Valley communities located in Enugu North Local Government Area in Enugu state.
In the town hall
meeting organized by CODE, with support from ONE Africa, the community was very
excited for such meeting; they used the opportunity to express their grievances
and disappointments they have received from government.
In a few speeches, the
traditional rulers representing the three autonomous communities that made up
Ngwo-uno, expressed their challenges, which include: poor security, no
electricity, no borehole, no resident doctor, no ambulance, no theatre and even
no presentable medical wards.
However, the
traditional leaders asked some questions on how to benefit from the World Bank’s
1.5 million USD health grant for upgrading public health centers, given to the
Enugu state government.
They expressed their willingness to support CODE
activities in any way they can to ensure full benefit from the World Bank
health grant.
There were interaction,
as well as question and answer sessions; the key interest of the community
people is how to access the government to take up the case of Akama Public
Health Center as a primary responsibility. The community leaders placed their
commitment to support the NGOs involved in any good way, to ensure the success
of the project.
None of the government
officials invited honored their invitation.
The community members’
remains optimistic that the NGOs involved is God sent.
The representatives of
the public health center management were at the town hall meeting, including
the communities’ special committee on health, each expressed their willingness
to help the NGOs to achieve their objectives.
In conclusion, the town
hall meeting was a huge success and all the community stakeholders were
equitably represented, and their feelings were expressed, with high commitment
to ensure the success of the project.
