May 2, 2026 | News
A new investigation has exposed the severe collapse of primary healthcare services in parts of , where patients are reportedly receiving treatment on mats, and pregnant women are forced to deliver on bare floors due to decaying infrastructure and chronic neglect.
At the Badawa Primary Healthcare Centre in Bodinga Local Government Area, patients are seen lying directly on the floor while receiving intravenous drips, with no beds or proper wards available. In many cases, visitors say they have no choice but to bring mats from home to access care.
Residents describe the facility as partially destroyed, with damaged roofs, overgrown surroundings, and abandoned structures. A 65-year-old patient, Muhammad Mande, who travelled from a nearby community for treatment, was found lying on a mat in an overcrowded room as he received care for a recurring illness.
Healthcare workers and community members say the centre has operated under severe constraints for years, with limited staff, shortage of equipment, and irregular medical supplies. Some cases are referred to distant hospitals, often after conditions worsen.
The situation is even more alarming for maternal care. Local volunteers report that women frequently deliver babies on the floor or in open, poorly equipped spaces. In some cases, births are conducted on mats laid in unfinished rooms, with little or no medical support available.
In another nearby facility, Zangalawa Primary Healthcare Centre, once a fully functional hospital, services have been reduced to a single overcrowded room after parts of the building were destroyed by a windstorm years ago. All departments—maternity, laboratory, and outpatient services—now operate in one space, creating severe strain on care delivery.
Equipment such as beds and medical tools remain unused due to lack of space, while essential services like proper laboratory testing are unavailable. Patients often travel long distances to access basic healthcare, sometimes with fatal consequences.
In Kandeza community, the local PHC stands structurally intact but completely non-functional due to lack of medical staff. Residents have resorted to self-medication and informal drug distribution, with local leaders admitting they now act as makeshift caregivers due to absence of professionals.
The broader healthcare system in Sokoto State continues to face criticism despite government allocations reportedly running into billions of naira for PHC renovation. Many facilities remain uncompleted or abandoned, while staffing shortages persist across the state.
In contrast, neighbouring states like are being highlighted for improvements in primary healthcare delivery, with renovated centres, improved staffing, and better maternal and child health outcomes.
The disparity has intensified concerns over unequal healthcare development and the urgent need for functional reforms in rural health systems across northern Nigeria.
