In the last quarter of 2016, the Follow The Money Team kick-started the monitoring and tracking the World Bank $1.5 Million grant to the 36 States and FCT each for the improvement of Primary Health Centres (PHCs). Our pilot states were in Enugu, Kano, Akwa-Ibom, Kogi, Osun and Yobe.

Furtherance to that, we have initiated the #RevatilizeApaOlaIlota campaign to track Kwara State’s $1.5 Million for the improvement of Apa Ola/Ilota health centre in Kwara South Local Government Area of Kwara State. This is well timed as the community which has about 3000 population size does not have a functional PHC. The PHC is basically empty with no equipment; no electricity, water supply, and emergency transport. In addition, the PHC has weak antenatal care infrastructure, no skilled birth attendants, no fridge to store drugs; no quarters for hospital staffers; a limited number of beds & chairs; and the toilet is a pit latrine.

We invite the public to get involved in the campaign today. As we understand that more lives will be saved if all the investments being allocated for were put in place and judiciously used as poor health facilities in Nigeria is key factor contributing to high maternal and child mortality.  Help us in this campaign so the rural community members of Apa Ola/Ilota would have access to better health care services for better health outcome.

Join us through ifollowthemoney.org

Ilorin South Local Government Chairman Promises to Renovate the Health Care Centre

13th June 2017: The villagers presented at the townhall meeting appealed to government and other stakeholders to come to their rescue in renovating and equipping the health care centre as the members of the community usually travel several kilometres to get medical attention. Reacting to this, the Chairman of Ilorin South Local Government Area represented by the Vice chairman promised that the local government will try all its possible best to renovate the health care centre.

Community Head Decry Mismanagement of Health Center by Kwara State Government 

13th June 2017: During the town hall meeting, the Baale of Ilota, Alh. M. Olarenwaju expressed his concern and the need for immediate renovation of the centre. He stated that the healthcare centre was built in 1975 by two communities Apaola and Ilota with full facilities to cater for basic medical challenges of their people, but since the Kwara state government has been in charge of the health centre affairs, they have been going through hell. He pleaded that the health centre should be renovated and handed over to them as they are ready to maintain it by themselves. The only nurse available in the Primary health centre while sharing her experience said that nothing was functioning at the centre, no water, no electricity and needed medical facilities.

Townhall Meeting Held in ApaolaIlota

13th June 2017: Our community champion in Kwara State in partnership with the Baale  of Ilota organized a town hall meeting in which the concerned governmental stakeholders were invited to discuss the condition of the Primary Health care centre in the community. In attendance were the Baale of Ilota, the Nurse in charge of the PHC, Local government Vice Chairman, Supervisor for Health, Supervisor for Works, Journalists, Representative from office of the SSA media to Kwara state governor and the community members.  Find the town hall meeting report

Efforts of the Community to Get the Government to Act Falls on Deaf Ears

8th May 2017: Speaking with Basiratu Saka, in her words she stated “Please, help us out, we really need a good health care centre in our village. We have made several approached to both local and state governments to help in renovating this health care centre which they have made several promises but still, nothing has been done”

Community Members not Aware of World Bank Grants 

8 May 2017: A community outreach was conducted to find out the status of the PHC and also to interview the community members and beneficiaries on how they have been faring with the Primary health care centre. Speaking with Hameed Balogun a member of the community, he quoted “We are not aware that World Bank give the government any money, till now we have not seen the impact of the money. Most time when women in the community want to give birth, we have to travel down to Ilorin before we can have access to health facilities”