Margaret Zichat Joseph

Every rainy season, the journey to the primary healthcare centre (PHC) in Lazuru Tudai becomes a test of endurance for residents of several rural communities in Lazuru Tudai Ward in Lere Local Government Area (LGA) of Kaduna State.

However, for patients who make the difficult journey, reaching the facility is only the beginning of another struggle as the facility has serious infrastructural gaps.

“It is in a terrible state, the entire hospital,” said Mohammed Zubairu, a community leader of Mangal Tudai. “We lack the most basic equipment and instruments and cannot carry out most of the lab tests patients require.”

PHC Lazuru Tudai is a Level 2 facility and a Basic Health Care Provision Fund (BHCPF) focal facility serving several surrounding communities, some located as far as seven kilometres away with residents often traveling muddy and slippery roads on motorcycles to seek care.

One of its most critical gaps is the absence of a proper medical laboratory. The facility’s laboratory is housed in a small security room with a leaking roof and damaged ceiling. Health workers conduct tests there despite the inadequate space and conditions, “sharing the security room poses a significant health risk,”  Zubairu explained.

The facility’s sanitation is another concern. Muhammadu Mato Lazuru, the Ward Development Committee Treasurer, said the toilet remains unsafe despite efforts by the community to repair it. “This hospital needs a new toilet. We did our best to repair it, but it remains unsafe and unhygienic,” he said.

For Nurse-in-Charge Hadiza Mahiru, the deteriorating infrastructure directly affects care. “Whenever it rains, water leaks through the roof, forcing staff and patients to move, disrupting the quality of care,” she said.

The challenges extend to patient privacy and infection prevention. Male and female inpatients share the same ward, separated only by cardboard partitions. “We have no choice,” Hadiza said. “This is the only space available.”

These conditions place additional pressure on health workers and patients, particularly those who have limited alternatives for accessing healthcare. The absence of adequate laboratory facilities, safe toilets, proper ward separation and weatherproof infrastructure limits the facility’s ability to deliver quality care despite its role as a Level 2 BHCPF facility.

The situation runs counter to the goals of Nigeria’s Health Sector Renewal Investment Initiative, which promises stronger PHC infrastructure and equitable access to quality health services. Addressing the gaps at PHC Lazuru Tudai will require investment in infrastructure, laboratory equipment, sanitation, and patient-friendly facilities.

The community is hereby calling on the stakeholders, policymakers and health authorities to;

1. Urgently rehabilitate PHC Lazuru Tudai
2. Provide a functional laboratory, safe toilets, adequate equipment, and improved infrastructure.
3. Strengthen monitoring and accountability structures for the health facility.

For communities travelling several kilometres to seek care, a functioning PHC should provide relief, not another source of risk. Ensuring that Lazuru Tudai has the infrastructure and equipment needed to deliver safe, quality services is essential to restoring confidence and protecting both patients and health workers.