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From Gyang Bere, Jos
Access to affordable and quality health care has remained one of the topmost challenges confronting average Nigerians, particularly rural communities where obstetric services are completely lacking, leading to the death of women and children during childbirth.
This, among several life-threatening issues encountered by residents of rural communities in Kwande, Qua’an Pan Local Government Area of Plateau State, compelled Miskoom Godfrey Peters Bawa Shitgurum and his wife, Bishop Mrs. Tina Bawa Shitgurum, to build a hospital in honour of their late parents, named Peter Bawa and Anna Memorial Hospital, Kwande.
The multimillion-naira 50-bed hospital, equipped with modern facilities, has brought relief to residents of Kwande, who, before now, travelled several kilometers to access health services.
The hospital, which was inaugurated last week, is positioned to subsidise medicare for members of the community. Already, it has carried out 170 free surgeries, besides free medication for members of the community who turned out for a three-day free medical outreach recently.
A beneficiary of the free medical outreach, 76-year-old Rose Bawa, who lost her vision for about 10 years due to glaucoma, was operated on successful by a team of doctors without any financial implication, at the hospital.
She expressed gratitude to the Shitgurum family for initiating the project and said she has been redeemed from her loss of vision by the benevolence of the philanthropists.
Christiana Podo, a 75-year-old mother, who was also battling with glaucoma, expressed gratitude to the family for the free medical care, saying she was operated on free and was gradually regaining her sight.
Suleiman Muawiya, 35, had been battling with hernia for over 10 years, without money for surgery, but said he was operated on in the hospital, free.
He prayed for God’s preservation upon the family and asked God to sustained their kindness to assist more vulnerable persons.
Chairman of the board of trustees, Peter Bawa and Anna Foundation, Miskoom Godfrey Peters Bawa Shitgurum, expressed satisfaction that his family built a hospital to take care of the sick and the vulnerable in the community.
“I feel honored, satisfied and very fulfilled that this hospital is commissioned for use today. You know, after we serve God, we serve humanity, and this is what we have done for our people.
“Now that we have given them the hospital, we believe that they will maintain it more so that the paramount ruler, HRH Miskoom Fidelis Longtoe Attahiru I, is in charge of the hospital.
“Beside that, we have sufficient staff that will maintain the hospital and we are going to subsidise the services to enable the people access affordable health care.”
Bishop Tina Bawa Shitgurum said the memorial hospital was conceived and built to address communicable and non-communicable health crisis threatening the community.
She described her husband as a kind man who was ready to give all for service to God and humanity and for the prosperity of his people.
Mrs. Shitgurum explained that the hospital was built as a result of the health crisis in the community, where people travelled far and still found it difficult to access medical care.
She explained that over 177 medical surgeries had been performed by their team of doctors and consultants during the free medical outreach scheduled as part of activities marking the inauguration.
Governor Simon Lalong, represented by Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Hon. Sylvester Tapgun, described the initiative as apt, saying giving back to society was a mark of gratitude that pleases God.
He noted that the initiative for the building of the hospital did not come to him as a surprise, in view of the cream of respected and honorable personalities Kwande community has produced. He urged the people of Kwande to maintain and guard the facility jealously for their heath services.
Attahiru described the hospital as the best thing that has happened to the community and said it would go a long way in addressing diverse health challenges in the community.
He appreciated Mr. and Mrs. Shitgurum and the entire family for giving back to the people of Kwande. He called on the people to maintain and sustain the hospital for this generation and generations yet unborn.
Dr. Benedict Baamshal Mairiga, who give an insight into the facility, said it was a 50-bed hospital equipped with modern health facilities with the status of a general hospital.
He explained that services in the hospital would be affordable for members of the community to address health crises.
Member, board of trustees of the Peter Bawa and Anna Foundation, Miskoom Larry Peters Bawa, said the hospital was built as part of service to humanity.
Chairman of Qua’an-Pan LGA, Ernest Abner Da’a, expressed joy and said the hospital would help the community to get quality and affordable health care.
He said the council would support the initiative to improve the living conditions of rural communities.
