By Rabi Mustapha

Every day, pregnant women in remote villages across Kagarko Local Government Area (LGA) of Kaduna State, are left behind in the struggle to access basic healthcare. For women in communities like Mararaban Babo, Taffa, and Chakwama, the journey to the nearest Iddah Primary Healthcare Centre (PHC), which is 14 KM away, is not only exhausting, but risky and deadly.

Fatima Abu-Bakr, a pregnant woman from Mararaban Babo, arrived at the PHC visibly exhausted after trekking for hours. “I missed my last antenatal visit and could not collect my drugs because the journey is too stressful and far,” she said.

Iddah PHC is a Level 2 PHC under the Basic Health Care Provision Fund (BHCPF). Despite its importance, access remains a major challenge for pregnant women who often travel on poor roads before reaching care. Many residents noted that the absence of nearby health posts forces women to delay or completely miss antenatal visits. Transportation costs, insecurity, and the lack of emergency transport services worsen the situation, especially during labour and emergencies.

Barde Abatin, the Officer-In-Charge of the Routine Immunisation unit, recalled a tragic incident, “a woman in labour could not access transportation to the PHC on time. She was later referred to another facility in Kagarko, but the delay proved fatal for the baby.”

According to the Ward Development Committee (WDC) Chairman, Sunday Simon, the burden on the PHC also continues to grow despite limited infrastructure and staffing. “We regularly facilitate outreach visits to educate pregnant women on the importance of antenatal care. We also mobilise resources from voluntary community contributions of ₦1,000 or more to support women whose families cannot afford transportation to the Iddah PHC,” he added.

The Nigeria’s Health Sector Renewal Investment Initiative (NHSRII) highlights the need for an efficient, equitable, and quality health system through strengthened PHC services, improved access and maternal healthcare delivery. However, the situation in these rural communities highlights persistent gaps in rural healthcare infrastructure, staffing, and emergency response systems.

Community members are therefore calling on government authorities and stakeholders to

• Urgently establish health posts in underserved villages,
• Improve emergency transportation systems for pregnant women,
• Deploy more trained health workers to rural PHCs, and
• Strengthen referral systems across all wards.

“As residents continue to wait,” Simon said, “one message remains clear: no woman should lose her life or child simply because healthcare is too far away.”