How We Support Flood-Affected Communities, Pregnant Women In Gombe, Bauchi, Yobe-NGO

By Najib Sani, Gombe

The Chief Executive Officer of Rural Health Mission Nigeria, Mohammed Sadiq, has highlighted the organisation’s efforts in providing healthcare support to communities affected by flooding in Gombe, Bauchi, and Yobe States.

Speaking at a press conference, Sadiq explained that the support is under their community project called ‘Community Recovery and Resilience Project’ funded by the Centre for Disaster Philanthropy, a US-based organisation.

According to him, the aim of the intervention is to strengthen healthcare infrastructure in rural communities vulnerable to natural disasters especially flooding which destroys facilities, prevent access to quality health services and also causes outbreak of cholera.

He noted that last year, severe flooding hit several communities, including Mai Kaho in Gombe, Gamawa in Bauchi, and Nangere in Yobe, resulting in significant damage to health facilities.

Sadiq revealed that six health facilities were completely destroyed in Gamawa, while seven were flooded in Nangere. In Mai Kaho, only one health facility remained operational.

In response, he stated that the Rural Health Mission Nigeria has renovated the health facilities; one in Gamawa while another is currently under renovation in Nangere. He said the organisation provided water supply to the Mai Kaho primary health care centre.

In addition to infrastructure support, the organisation according to him also focuses on maternal healthcare by distributing life-saving birth kits to pregnant women in the affected communities.

“A total of 50 pregnant women in each community received the kits, along with some financial assistance, to ensure safe delivery and reduce maternal mortality rates.

“The Community Recovery and Resilience Project underscores Rural Health Mission Nigeria’s commitment to improving healthcare access and outcomes in underserved rural communities”, he said.