Bridging the Gap: Community Action Drives Healthcare Improvements at Tanawa PHC

Usman Abdulmumin Abubakar, the Matawalle of Kura and Assistant Secretary of the Primary Health Care (PHC) Community Committee, reminisces about the humble beginnings of the Tanawa Primary Healthcare Post. Founded in 2011 by the Dangote Foundation, this facility has become a vital healthcare hub for pregnant women and children.

The entrance to Tanawa Health Post. Image credit: Nigeria Health Watch

“We wanted a health centre where our mothers, sisters, and children wouldn’t have to travel miles to access care,” he said. “With this goal in mind, we banded together, and with support from the Dangote Foundation, the Tanawa Health Post was born.”

Usman explains that a committee made up of respectable members of the community took responsibility for overseeing the hospital’s activities. “Every two to three weeks, we meet to assess the facility’s needs, identify gaps, and come up with solutions. When financial challenges arise, the community helps—whether through small donations or larger contributions,” he adds.

Despite the community’s dedicated efforts to sustain its operations, like installing a canopy to shelter patients during the rainy season, the health post faces challenges that impede its capacity to deliver effective services to the community.

Nuruddin Kasim Kura, the officer in charge, highlights some ongoing issues. “We have only five permanent staff; most of the others supporting us here are volunteers. We need at least 10 [permanent staff] to run the facility 24 hours and provide labour and delivery services, which the community is eagerly requesting,” he explained.

Sulaiman Salisu Kura, Chairperson of Kura LGA’s Ward Development Committee, recognises that staff shortages aren’t exclusive to Tanawa Health Post and is collaborating with authorities and stakeholders to recruit more healthcare professionals.

A canopy constructed through the effort of the community to provide shade for people at the facility.
Image credit: Nigeria Health Watch

Lack of a labour and delivery unit

One of the most pressing concerns in Tanawa Health Post is the lack of a labour and delivery unit. While the community has been pushing for its establishment, Salisu Kura clarified that

 “the health post was not designed for that purpose, but we will continue to lobby the authorities to see if it can be upgraded.”

A standard health post is typically limited to specific services and does not include labour and delivery. It is expected to run from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. and is designed to serve a population of around 500 people. However, the Tanawa Health Post currently serves over 5,000 people who rely on it for their health needs. The nearest health facility to this community is the Sani Marshal PHC, which is over 8 kilometres away, leaving the community members with no choice but to depend solely on the health post.

A fence and a zinc gate constructed by the community to secure the health facility.
Image credit: Nigeria Health Watch

The second pillar of Nigeria’s 4-point agenda for the health sector reform emphasises the government plan to revitalise 8809 Primary HealthCare facilities to a level 2 PHC, with at least one per political ward, and subsequently expanding to 17,600 PHCs over four years to ensure they provide an efficient, equitable, and high-quality healthcare system. The health needs of the Tanawa people highlight the necessity of upgrading the health post to a level 2 PHC, which aligns with the government plan. However, without government support, the health post will be unable to meet the increasing needs of its residents.

The health workers at Tanawa Health Post and residents of the community are hereby calling on the government and relevant authorities to:

1. Upgrade the health post to a level 2 Primary HealthCare Centre and construct additional units, including laboratories and a labour and delivery suite, to enhance the facility’s capabilities to meet the health needs of the community members.

2. Recruit more trained health workers to support the increased demand for health services in the facility.