The health centre constructed by ActionAid LRP is serving its purpose- saving lives. After series of unpleasant experiences with traditional birth attendants in the community, Bilikisu summoned the courage to give a fourth trial at childbearing after losing 3 children to poor medical attention as a result of the lack of access to a health care facility. Bilikisu Saidu, 25, is nowa happy mother of 3 surviving children – Halima, 4; Talatu, 3 and Latifa, 3 weeks old.
“I am happy because of the location of this hospital,” Bilikisu said through an interpreter. She could barely raise her emotionally laden voice as she tried to share the experience of losing 3 children because of the inability to access a health centre for delivery. Her 3 surviving children were born in the LRP supported health care centre.
“This health centre is a blessing, it is also timely,” said Charity Ocholi, the government nurse attendant posted to the clinic. Charity was transferred from Igalamela health centre in 2010. She recalled that the community members paid a visit to the Igalamela health centre and requested posting of a nurse to the centre built by ActionAid: “The community people came to our office to request for staff. As soon as they left, my HOD told me to resume duty here. I was very happy because it is home coming for me,” Charity said.
“A lot of pregnant women lose their children because of the distance they travel to access affordable health care service; some use the unapproved traditional birth attendants and some stay at home during the period of pregnancy because of cost” she observed.
The health facility has also attracted the attention of the local government; while ActionAid provided the solar system to power the one room laboratory within the centre; the local government supplied vaccine storage deep freezer.
Charity is self motivated; she surmounts all the attendant challenges of working in a remote community because of the passion to serve her people: “If you don’t fight for your people, your people will be at a loss,” she spoke of her conviction to continue to serve as a nurse in the community.