By Our Correspondent
The people of Umunneato community in Ishi-Ogwa, Mbaitoli Local Government Area of Imo State, are facing a growing healthcare crisis following the total collapse of their only public health facility.
The Umunneato Ishi-Ogwa Health Centre, once meant to serve as a lifeline for the community, has deteriorated into a dangerous and abandoned structure, leaving residents with no access to basic medical care.
Years of neglect have reduced the health centre to ruins. Its roofing and ceilings have caved in, walls are cracked, windows shattered, and doors destroyed by termites, making the building unsafe for human use. With no electricity, medical equipment, or healthcare personnel, the facility has been rendered completely non-functional, forcing the community to fend for itself in times of illness and emergency.
The collapse of the centre has had devastating consequences. Residents are now compelled to travel long distances to neighboring communities to seek medical attention—journeys that are often expensive, exhausting, and dangerous.
Pregnant women, children, the elderly, and people living with chronic illnesses are the worst affected, as delayed treatment has become common and emergency care is largely out of reach.
Community leaders and residents say the facility has been abandoned for more than six years, despite repeated complaints and appeals to relevant authorities.
They describe the situation as a clear example of the deep neglect of rural healthcare infrastructure, where public facilities are built but left to decay without maintenance, staffing, or accountability.
Civil society organizations and community advocacy groups have added their voices, calling on the Imo State Government, Mbaitoli Local Government Council, and health authorities to act urgently.
They emphasize that reviving the Umunneato Ishi-Ogwa Health Centre would restore access to essential services such as maternal care, immunization, and emergency treatment, potentially saving countless lives.
As the structure continues to crumble, residents fear that continued inaction will further endanger lives. They are demanding immediate rehabilitation of the health centre, provision of modern medical equipment, and deployment of qualified healthcare workers, insisting that access to healthcare is a basic right and not a privilege.
