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Fetching water from a muddy pond
By Akpan David, Calabar
Two densely populated Itung Akpe and Itung Mission Autonomous communities, in Ibil of Ogoja Local Government Area of Cross River State have decried continual neglect by succeeding governments in the state.
They have lamented the deprivations of basic amenities such as potable drinkable water, health care centres, roads, schools, electricity, lack of knowledge of technology.
Leaders of both communities spoke when Godshield Kanjal Journalism Foundation, a media focused non-profit and non governmental organisation (NGO) led journalists to some hard to reach communities in northern parts of the state.
Speaking for his community, Chief Francis Ibu, village head of Itung Akpe said, “We have no Primary Health Centre, not even patent medicine or pharmacy shop are in these communities.
Ibu lamented that his village has been marginalized and deprived of basic amenities especially basic health care.
“We are suffering here. Our wives, children and aged people are sick and no health post or even a chemist shop to get drugs from.
“We are appealing to government and NGOs to come to our aid and provide us with a health post to ease the burden of traveling miles away to buy drugs”, he said.
His counterpart, the village head of Itung Mission, Godwin Awori appealed to government and other organizations to come to their aid and provide them with a health facility.
A community health worker at a Primary Health Centre in Ogoja, who also spoke, Francis Ilemi, said even the existing health centres lack equipment and personnel
“We are lacking essential drugs and the staffing of these PHC is poor,” the health worker said.
The journalists found out that these communities do not also have potable drinkable water.
Their only source of drinking water is from the hand dug well.
However, during drought these wells dry up, and this is said to be part of the effects of climate change, according to a youth leader in the community, Micheal Ashaya.
He confirmed that the locals drink from the wells or stream water, which is not healthy.
He appealed to government and NGOs to come to the rescue.
Wow good job brother this places really need health care attention nothing of such have ever visited those communities I really appreciate you and your team for checking up on them good bless you all 🙏🙏