by Achadu Gabriel, Kaduna
Residents of Kaura Community, in Kaura Local Government Area of Kaduna State, on Wednesday halted the alleged removal of beds, a Mikano generator, a step-down transformer and an ambulance from the Rural Hospital, Kaura, insisting that no equipment would leave the facility without a clear and verifiable directive from relevant authorities.
The development created tension in the community as residents confronted a man, who reportedly arrived at the hospital with a pickup vehicle, to evacuate some of the items.
The community alleged that most of the equipment targeted for removal were donated through contributions by indigenes of Kaura.
Speaking in a telephone interview, the Public Relations Officer of the Kaura Community, Anthony Timothy, said residents quickly mobilised after receiving information that efforts were underway to move the remaining hospital equipment.
According to him, about 75 per cent of the hospital beds were donated by members of the community, jus as the Mikano generator and step-down transformer were also provided through communal efforts.
Timothy said community leaders met the Matron and Deputy Matron of the hospital, who reportedly denied having prior knowledge of the planned evacuation.
He alleged that a letter presented as ‘authorization’ for the removal was not officially acknowledged with a stamp, thereby raising questions over its authenticity.
“We will not allow anything to move out of this place because enough is enough. We cannot continue to watch people come and remove items from the hospital, while we are waiting for the completion of the renovation and for new facilities to be brought in,” he said.
The community spokesman alleged that some hospital items removed in previous exercises included properties donated by the community.
He identified the person, who came to oversee the removal, as Mr Leo Zamani, alleging that he arrived with a pickup vehicle and had already marked the ambulance and Mikano generator with identification numbers before the pickup driver quietly left the premises after community members challenged the operation.
According to Timothy, Zamani claimed he was sent from Kaduna, but the community was unaware of any official authority backing his mission.
“To the best of my knowledge, he is not a health worker. I know him as somebody involved in politics. Everything was being handled through the Accountant, while the Matron and Deputy Matron were not aware of what was happening,” he alleged.
Timothy further disclosed that the situation attracted security operatives after the man reportedly raised alarm that violence had erupted at the hospital.
However, he said the security personnel, who arrived, discovered that there was no violence, but rather community members peacefully resisting the removal of hospital assets.
As of the time of filing this report, no additional equipment had been removed, with residents maintaining that no hospital property would be taken away until proper explanations were provided by the appropriate authorities.
Meanwhile, a senior official of the Kaduna State Primary Healthcare Board (who spoke on condition of anonymity) said the board was unaware of the incident, and promised to investigate the matter.
“I’m not aware. But I will investigate it and get back to you. I know that, if something like that would happen, it should come through the local health authority in the local government,” the source said.
The official had yet to respond with further details as of the time this report was filed.