In the rural community of Bendeghe Ekiem, located in Etung Local Government Area of Cross River State, a massive healthcare center lies in ruins, a haunting reminder of broken promises and a symbol of government negligence and failing infrastructure. Behind the government’s self-congratulatory headlines, mothers count the hours until their children’s fever breaks, patients plead for just one pill, and communities whisper broken promises. Meanwhile, officials stand on podiums, patting themselves on the back for their work in the health sector, especially in the Primary Healthcare Center. Investigative journalist SYLVIA AKPAN ripped back the curtain on the healthcare system in crisis.
The Bendeghe Ekiem Comprehensive Health Centre, which was built over three decades ago, was born out of hope, promising to cradle the health and wellbeing of its community. It was meant to be a sanctuary where mothers could deliver safely, children could receive timely vaccinations, and families could find solace in quality care. But today, the center’s crumbling walls are matched only by the shattered toilets that line its halls, a haunting reminder of forgotten dreams and neglect.
Bendeghe Ekiem Comprehensive Healthcare Center . Photo by Sylvia Akpan.
The once-vibrant halls now echo with silence, the sound of children’s laughter replaced by the cries of a community desperate for help. The forgotten health center is more than just a building. It is a symbol of shattered dreams, of lives lost to preventable illnesses, and of families forced to suffer in silence.
Established with a promise on December 9th, 1992, licensed and registered as Primary Healthcare Center by the Nigerian Ministry of Health under code 09/10/1/1/1/0015, now lies in ruin and reduced to a haunting eyesore.
The healthcare center’s dilapidated state is alarming. The roof leaks, walls are cracked, equipment is outdated and unusable, toilets are in shambles, broken, filthy, and a breeding ground for disease, and to make matters worse, deliveries take place in darkness, with no electricity to illuminate the labor room, putting mothers and newborns at risk and making a bad situation even worse.
Broken ceilings and damaged wiring in the facility. Photo by Sylvia Akpan.
A once-thriving hub of care is crippled by the absence of medical staff, essential medications, and vital supplies, leaving the community without access to even the most basic healthcare services. Primary healthcare centers are the backbone of Universal Health Coverage (UHC), providing essential services to communities, according to the World Health Organization (WHO).
According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), over 1.5 billion people still do not have basic sanitation services, such as private toilets or latrines. Poor sanitation is linked to transmission of diarrhoeal diseases such as cholera and dysentery, as well as typhoid, intestinal worm infections, and polio. It exacerbates stunting and contributes to the spread of antimicrobial resistance.
Lack Of Progress Stalls Allocated Funds
The Cross River State Government allocated N2.2 billion across three fiscal years (2020, 2021, and 2024) for healthcare infrastructure development, specifically for constructing and renovating comprehensive health centers.
Despite the N2.2 billion allocation, the primary health centers in the visited LGAs fell short of national standards, struggling to deliver essential services like immunization, maternal and child care, and universal health coverage, hindering human capital development.
Windows to the soul of neglect. Photo by Sylvia Akpan.
Frustration and disappointment are palpable in Bendeghe Ekiem as residents decry the healthcare centre’s deplorable state, demanding change and better access to quality medical care.
However, the state of disrepair at Bendeghe Ekiem PHCs lays bare a jarring truth: the government’s lofty promises of comprehensive healthcare are nothing more than empty words. The people of Bendeghe Ekiem deserve more than just words, they deserve a functioning healthcare system that prioritizes their lives.
A broken bicycle lies idle in the facility. Photo by Sylvia Akpan.
Close to a decade, Ojong Isabella, a Community Health Extension Worker (CHEW), has tended to her community’s health with care and compassion. Yet, every time she steps into the Bendeghe Ekiem Comprehensive Healthcare Center where she works, she instinctively veers left, not to avoid patients, but to dodge the crumbling ceiling that threatens to collapse towards the toilet.
Broken ceilings of Bendeghe Ekiem Comprehensive Healthcare. Photo by Sylvia Akpan.
Broken walls of Bendeghe Ekiem Comprehensive Healthcare Center. Photo by Sylvia Akpan:
Five years of abandonment have transformed these wards into eerie relics. Doors dangle precariously, windows are shattered. The toilets are a nightmare, maggots writhe in the muck, and the stench clings to every surface.
A damaged door is leaning against a wall in a cluttered room. Photo by Sylvia Akpan
Just steps from where patients lay vulnerable, a different kind of contagion spread as lizard droppings stained the floors while cobwebs clung to the walls. The environment of the facility seems to breed disease, putting patients at risk the moment they step inside. Care and contagion exist side by side in the facility.
Broken window in Bendeghe Ekiem Comprehensive Healthcare Center. Photo by Sylvia Akpan
Damaged medical reports. Photo by Sylvia Akpan.
What the hospital staff said was that the building had been that way for so many years, and the government was aware. The staff said that the Commissioner of Health is from Etung LGA.
High-level visits often bring high hopes, as it was in the case of Isabella, who said, “A team from the Commissioner of Health, including the DG CRSPHCDA, visited and promised to upgrade the primary healthcare center to a full-fledged hospital.
“It is not as if the government is not aware of our predicament; they are. This is the Commissioner’s village, so he is aware.
“They came two years ago, brought their team, and did free operations. It was a big event, and even had a Thanksgiving mass. But after they left, nothing changed. They promise things will happen ‘with immediate effect,’ but we never see it. It is like they just use our community for photo ops and forget about us.”
She said a private organization had visited the PHC and provided water and other items, but she could not recall the organization because the facility has no records.
“We finally got water here thanks to an NGO. It is a story that shows how personal experience can drive change. The man who made it happen is from this community (Etung). His mother was once a patient here, and when she asked for water to cool herself down during a heatwave, we had to tell her we’d fetch some from the stream. She was devastated. When her son heard about it, he stepped in and had a borehole dug. Now we have water, but, sadly, it took a personal tragedy for us to get such a basic necessity.”
When the reporter asked how they are coping, she candidly shared the struggles of make-do with limited resources.
“Honestly, our living situation is a struggle. We don’t have staff quarters, so we are forced to use student apartments. But when patients come, we have to squeeze into the clinic. It is not ideal, and not professional. And have you seen the state of this environment? It’s dark. The only light we have is this one solar light courtesy of our in-charge, Cecilia Ogar Abang. It is a start, but we need more.”
Child Delivery At Night Is A Major Challenge
Photo by Sylvia Akpan: Broken ceilings in the facility
“Deliveries at night are a challenge. When the solar light’s battery died and couldn’t be replaced, we resorted to using torches. I’ve invested in a reliable one, and it is a lifeline during night shifts. When a labor case comes in after 8:pm, it’s a scramble. I use my torch or headlamp to ensure safe care until the mother delivers, then return her to the labor ward.”
The residents of Bendeghe have expressed frustration and disappointment at the state of the healthcare center.
According to Ekpenyong Akabom, a resident of Bendeghe Ekiem, “We are fed up with being ignored. Broken equipment, endless waits, and a constant shortage of doctors have become the norm. It is as if our health, our well-being, and our lives does not matter.
“We are not just statistics or numbers, we are mothers, fathers, children, and entire families suffering because our healthcare system has failed us. We demand functional facilities, equipped with modern technology and staffed by dedicated professionals. We demand quality care that prioritizes our health and dignity.
“Our lives depend on it, every delayed diagnosis, every postponed surgery, and every life lost due to preventable causes is a pointer that change can’t wait. We deserve better, and we won’t stay silent until we get it.”
Hospital Toilet Fails Patients
An unhygienic toilet facility. Photo by Sylvia Akpan
Some patients expressed concerns about the toilet facilities, stating that they were unhygienic and likely to cause infections.
A patient, Kerry Ojong (Not real name due to victimization) expressed dissatisfaction and anger due to contracting a toilet infection in a healthcare setting.
“I am consumed by frustration, anger, and disappointment. Contracting a toilet infection in a healthcare setting is absolutely unacceptable. The lack of cleanliness and maintenance is appalling, and the negligence that led to my condition is a serious breach of trust.
“I’m still struggling with the physical pain and discomfort caused by this infection. The emotional toll is unbearable and I am feeling betrayed by an institution supposed to care for my health. How could this happen?
“What measures will be taken to prevent future occurrences? I expect transparency, accountability, and tangible changes. Anything less would be a further insult to my health and well-being.
“If basic hygiene cannot be maintained, how can I trust that other aspects of care are being handled properly?’, she questioned.
Another patient anonymously said “I used the toilet here and soon developed a Urinary Tract Infection (UTI). It is clear the facilities are not being properly cleaned. I urge the hospital to take immediate action to improve hygiene standards to protect other patients.”
Medical Expert Speaks
Health Expert, Dr. F Archibong, said one of the major challenges of PHCs in Cross River is a lack of appropriate health care professionals. stating that most of the PHCs t outside the nucleus of the state government are headed by Community Health Workers/ Community Health Extension workers. “These are sets of healthcare staff who are trained to work as support staff in the health sector, but they are left to be the 1st contact healthcare providers in most PHCs in Cross River State.
“Based on global best practice. Most PHCs are now operating as Primary Medical Centers (PMC ), where the upgraded PHC now has specialist doctors providing first contact care. In Nigeria, the minimum standard for PHC is that at least a medical doctor should be employed to work and/ or supervise the affairs of PHC.
“The PHCs without doctors are basically abandoned by the people because of a lack of trust by the people in the services they have received previously. Presently, most PHCs carry out vaccination services based on the National Program on Immunisation.
Most of these PHCs have no source of water. Hence, their toilet facilities are locked and not in use. The result of this is being inhabited by rodents, which thereafter attracts snakes. After this, those that are not snakes invested are broken because of lack of care.”
“A portion of some facilities whose toilets are not built into the facilities and don’t have water, the toilets are used by some villages at night, and the toilets are littered hence cannot be used by patients,” he added.
A visit to Akani Esuk PHC in Calabar South Local Government Area of the state revealed a disturbing sight. Shattered toilets and broken tiles, with deep holes beneath, thereby making it a hotbed for bacteria and germs, silently threatening the very people they are meant to serve.
Shattered toilet of Akani Esuk Primary Healthcare Center. Photo by Sylvia Akpan
Broken tile in Akani Esuk PHC. Photo by Sylvia Akpan
Umo Umo Etim, the Chief Community Health Officer, controlling Akani Esuk PHC, said, “We are thrilled you have visited our facility. We are hopeful your visit will bring positive change. Our healthcare center lacks essentials. A well-stocked pharmacy with adequate medication, sufficient seating, and overall renovation. We urgently need solar lights, a reliable water supply, enhanced security measures, and dedicated cleaning staff. Our staffing shortage is evident, and we believe our volunteers, who have been instrumental, deserve employment opportunities. We look forward to your support in addressing these concerns and securing government assistance for meaningful improvements.”
The leaking roof of Akani Esuk Primary Healthcare Center. Photo by Sylvia Akpan
As the reporter stepped into the wards, the harsh reality of neglect became painfully clear. Broken walls, shattered ceilings, and a damaged roof painted a picture of neglect. Important medical records lay torn and tattered, while outside was a broken-down ambulance, which may be a breeding habitat for reptiles.
Fallen doors of Akani Esuk PHC. Photo by Sylvia Akpan
Unfunctional ambulance in Akani Esuk PHC. Photo by Sylvia Akpan
Health Officials Dodge Responsibility
During a visit to the Commissioner for Health, Dr. Henry Ayuk, a bizarre exchange unfolded as Sen. Alfred Atu, Personal Assistant to the Commissioner for Health, quibbled at the reporter’s letter. She was denied access to the commissioner and, however redirected her to the Director-General of Cross River State Primary Healthcare Development Agency (CRSPHCDA). Ironically, the DG’s office had acknowledged receipt and instructed a meeting with the Commissioner.
When this reporter met with the DG of CRSPHCDA, Mrs. Vivienne Mesembe Otu, she questioned the reporter’s presence, asking, “Who is sending you to get data? What data are you people collecting?” With a giggle, she added, “You want to come and find out the problems we have to put on social media?” She quizzed. “Everybody knows the problem of PHCs in Nigeria,” she said.
This story was produced for the Frontline Investigative Program and supported by the Africa Data Hub and Orodata Science.
Leave feedback about this