Concerned citizens and health workers in Kurmi local government council of Taraba State have appealed to the state government to urgently intervene in the deteriorating condition of the First Referral Hospital, FRH, in Baissa, describing the facility as being in a critical state and struggling to fulfill its role as a major healthcare provider for the area.
The appeal which was made weekend, follows the circulation of photographs on social media allegedly showing severe infrastructural decay within the hospital.
Residents and healthcare workers claim that the facility, which serves more than 100,000 people in Kurmi LGA and surrounding border communities, is facing significant operational challenges.
According to the group, several wards and units within the hospital are dilapidated, with leaking roofs, inadequate water supply, and unreliable electricity. They further allege that essential medical equipment is either broken or unavailable, creating unsafe conditions for patients and healthcare personnel.
Reports from the facility also indicate a severe shortage of manpower, with some units reportedly being managed by only one or two volunteer workers. Stakeholders say the shortage has compromised emergency services and night-duty operations.
Making the appeal through Dauda Hosea Bello, the concerned citizens warned that the hospital’s current condition could contribute to preventable deaths, health complications, and declining public confidence in the healthcare system.
They emphasized that First Referral Hospital Baissa remains the backbone of healthcare delivery in Kurmi LGA and neighboring communities, noting that the collapse of the facility would leave primary healthcare centers without a functional referral destination for emergency cases.
The group also argued that the situation could undermine Taraba State’s access to healthcare funding opportunities, including programs tied to functional referral systems under the Basic Health Care Provision Fund and other donor-supported initiatives.
In their appeal, the stakeholders called on governor Agbu Kefas and relevant authorities to take immediate action through emergency rehabilitation and modernization of the hospital.
They requested urgent repairs of damaged infrastructure, provision of modern medical equipment, installation of solar power systems, construction of a reliable water supply through boreholes, and the provision of basic theatre equipment.
They also urged the government to deploy additional healthcare personnel, including doctors, nurses, laboratory scientists, and community health extension workers (CHEWs and JCHEWs), to address existing manpower shortages.
