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From Sola Ojo, Kaduna
A Delta State-born graduate of Political Science from Anambra State University, Igbariam Campus, who is doing her national service at the Lere Local Government Secretariat, Saminaka, Kaduna State, Chelsea Amaka Iweanyi, has renovated an abandoned community primary health care center at the cost of N5.4m.
With this, Amaka has successfully implemented one of the four cardinal objectives of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), which Community Development Service (CDS) aimed at improving the lives of rural dwellers. The remaining three objectives are orientation course, primary assignment and passing-out parade.
Many would be wondering how a serving corps member with a N33,000 monthly allowance could embark on such a project within her 11-month sojourn in an entirely different community.
Most times, the idea would come first then the money. In Amaka’s case, the idea came first and then people who had interest in the outcome of the idea came to her aid.
According to her, religious leaders, political leaders and traditional leaders within Lere local government where she is serving and outside her local government donated to help her accomplish her dream.
Lere is the leading local government area in terms of favourable climatic conditions that enable its residents to lead in the production of all manner of grains in commercial quantity.
The local government is in the northern senatorial zone of Kaduna State and is alien to insecurity. It is about two and a half hours’ drive from Kaduna, the state capital.
Because Lere is located a bit distant from the state capital, many corps members, especially those coming to the state for the first time, usually find it difficult to accept their posting there in good faith despite the business opportunities that abound there.
Talking about the renovated health facility at the Yarkasuwa community, the chairman of the committee for the Community health Centre, Yarkasuwa, Mai Anguwa Danladi Bature, disclosed that the idea of having that primary healthcare facility was conceived in 1982 by Chief Muruku Agaji, who was the chairman of the local government council then.
It was, however, built by another chairman, Dr. L.M. Soni, in 1987 and it has been providing the basic health needs of thousands of locals who rely solely on the facility for health care.
Unfortunately, “rainstorm blew it off in 2013 and it has been like that until this Amaka came around to roof it, put up the ceiling and windows and then paint it. We are grateful to Almighty Allah for sending this young lady to our community,” Bature said.
On what propelled her to embark on such an ‘expensive’ project in a ‘strange’ land with people of different tongues and cultures, Amaka shared how she lost one of her siblings due to the inability of her family to afford his medical bills.
“My brother, who was preparing for his wedding, died in our parlour in 2015 because we could not afford his medical bill. So, I have it in mind to do something about that, if I am privileged to do so later in life.
“Initially, what I had in mind was to build a hospital in honour of my late brother. But along the line, my attention was drawn to this dilapidated primary health care centre
“Again, I observed that pregnant women and sick children have to be taken to a far hospital for treatment. That was how I came about this project.
“I had to travel around Kaduna State to source the funds from religious and political figures. The traditional leaders here in Lere also lent their support.
“The project was earlier estimated to cost me about N8 million but I was able to get it done to this level at about N5 million.
“Today, I feel good that at least a life will be saved here sooner or later. I thank the NYSC for providing this platform. I also thank our spiritual, traditional and political leaders God used to bring this 14-room facility back to life,” she said.
On his part, the chief of Bungwan Kudaru, Lere, Yakubu Iliya Sauri, who was represented by Waziri Bungwan Kudaru, Yakubu Akwu, commended the corps member for embarking on and completing such a project within a few months.
“I have been a leader in the chiefdom for about 20 years, but I have not seen such a gesture. This means a lot to us and we thank the young lady for making this a reality.
“I want to appeal to our chairman, who has been walking his talk, to do more and support initiatives like what we are witnessing here today so our standard of living can improve,” he said.
Inaugurating the project, the chairman of Lere Local Government Area, Matthew Gambo, commended the corps member for distinguishing herself within the council.
He said: “What she did is worthy of commendation and emulation because this is strange in our land. This effort will be remembered by our people for a long time. This should serve as encouragement for other corps members to begin to think of building enduring legacies during the national service.
“Let me confess that, initially, I did not take her seriously when she approached me in her resolve to put this health facility back to life. But when I saw the pace at which she was going on the project, I saw determination in her, and I was left with no option but to support her.”
