No Beds, No Dr¥gs, No Lights: Rafin Kirya Clinic, Kebbi State in Crisis — MonITNG Report
A recent inspection by civic watchdog group MonITNG at the Primary Health Clinic in Rafin Kirya, Shanga LGA of Kebbi State has revealed a shocking level of neglect, sparking concerns over the state of rural healthcare across the region.
According to MonITNG’s report, the clinic is in a dire state. Patients are forced to lie on bare floors due to the lack of mattresses or proper bedding. Basic necessities like medications, electricity, and clean running water are nonexistent.
The ceilings are damaged, leaving wards exposed to rain, while the facility’s only water source—a shallow well—dries up during the dry season, leaving it waterless for months.
With no electricity or working generator, even the simplest medical procedures are almost impossible. Residents, frustrated and abandoned, say they often have to travel over 20km to access proper healthcare in nearby towns.
This situation is especially troubling given Kebbi State’s reported health budgets. Over N10 billion was allocated to healthcare in 2023, with further promises in the 2024 and 2025 budgets to improve rural health infrastructure. Yet, the reality at facilities like Rafin Kirya Clinic tells a different story—one of broken promises and unmet needs.
MonITNG also pointed to the lack of accountability in the state’s use of substantial donor funding. Programs like the Basic Health Care Provision Fund (BHCPF), the World Bank’s Save One Million Lives, and federal health interventions have all been active in Kebbi. Yet, their impact is invisible at Rafin Kirya.
“Where is the accountability for these funds?” the group asked.
Calling for immediate intervention, MonITNG urged the Kebbi State Government, NPHCDA, and the State Primary Healthcare Board to act. “The people of Rafin Kirya deserve clean water, functioning facilities, and dignity in healthcare. Enough of the promises. Let action begin today.”
The gap between spending and the lived experiences of rural Nigerians is a crisis that can no longer be ignored.
