By Kenneth Okunbor 

Residents of Ugoemoson community in Uhunmwode Local Government Area of Edo State, have decried the absence of basic amenities, particularly the deplorable state of their health centre, which they say has been neglected for over a year.

Speaking on the situation, the community’s second-in-command, Mr. Charity Eguavoen, disclosed that about six to eight months ago, the Local Government Council chairman visited the community and promised to renovate the health centre within one week.

Eguavoen said the community waited in vain for the promised intervention, but nothing was done. According to him, the building continued to deteriorate, forcing residents to take matters into their own hands.

“We had to start sawing wood ourselves to repair the health centre so that it would not collapse on patients,” he said.

He lamented that the facility currently lacks doctors, nurses, and essential drugs, adding that in some cases, patients are referred elsewhere to purchase medications due to the unavailability of drugs.

He further revealed that the community has been without electricity for six years, while the primary school is not functioning properly and there is no access to a borehole for clean water.

Also speaking, the Youth Leader of Ugoemoson, Mr. Orhue Igbenedion Oguiogo, said the community had long cried out over the poor condition of the health centre without any response from the government.

Igbenedion explained that residents contributed money and began renovation work themselves, including sawing wood for repairs, before officials of the local government suddenly intervened.

“They came and told us that renovating the health centre is the responsibility of the government, not the community,” he said.

He noted that the Ugoemoson health centre serves several neighbouring communities, including 

Uvbe, Ugoneki, and Uguana, but due to its poor condition, many residents no longer seek treatment there.

The youth leader added that if the government fails to act, the community should be allowed to proceed with its self-help efforts to rehabilitate the facility.

He also highlighted the poor state of the community market, stressing that despite Ugoemoson being known for yam production, traders find it difficult to transport and sell their produce due to the deplorable condition of the market.

The community leaders, however, reiterated their appeal to both the local and state governments to urgently intervene and provide the needed amenities to improve living conditions in the area.