The Nuhu Yakubu Women and Children Hospital in Aisami, Gwale Local Government Area of Kano State, is now about 90 per cent complete after the community received N50 million in donations to continue construction.
The hospital started as a community effort in 2017 after residents got approval from the then chairman of Gwale LGA, Khalil Ishaq, to demolish an abandoned health post and rebuild it into a women and children hospital.
Residents contributed money and labour to the project. Some also supported the work in other ways, including through prayers.
The project received a major boost after our weekly Community Report in January this year highlighted the community’s efforts and the challenges it faced in completing the hospital.
During a recent visit to the facility, solar-powered ceiling fans were seen installed in the wards and offices. Electrical fittings have been completed, while tiling and painting of the hospital and its surroundings have also been done.
The community said air conditioners would be installed soon.
The temporary structure used by the clinic while construction was ongoing has also been removed. The space is now being used as a parking area.
Water supply, which had been another major problem for the facility, has also been addressed.
The current chairman of Gwale LGA, Alhaji Abubakar Mu’azu Mojo, provided a solar-powered borehole and water storage tanks for the hospital.
Salamatu Baffa Sule, the Officer-in-Charge of the clinic, said the changes have started attracting more patients.
“More patients are coming to the hospital every day because of the development.”
She said the facility is also helping to train young healthcare workers, with more than 15 interns from different institutions currently undergoing their internship there.
Abubakar Ya’u, chairman of the Kabuga Aisami Community Initiative, said only a few major things remain before the project can be completed.
According to him, the community still needs to complete and paint the doctors’ quarters and provide some equipment and other facilities for the hospital.
“We are now about 90 per cent complete. We appreciate the donors and everyone who has supported us. We started this project as a community, and their support has helped us come this far.”
Ya’u said the project had faced delays over the years because the community could not raise enough money to complete it and provide the needed equipment.
The community, however, says security around the hospital remains a concern.
Rilwanu Abubakar, secretary of the Kabuga Aisami Community Initiative, said an area where youths gather to smoke should be converted into a security office for the hospital.
“The youths’ activities there are disturbing patients and health workers. We want that place converted into a security office so the hospital and the community can be better protected.”
He appealed to the government, donors and residents to continue supporting the project until the hospital is fully completed and equipped.
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