Driving through the lonely stretch of road through Billiri
LGA to Shongom LGA in Gombe state North East Nigeria, was peaceful and
uneventful. The green farmlands and grassland opening up to the hills behind
was breathtaking and a sight to behold, compelling one to appreciate the beauty
of nature. It is farming season and the fields are green.
The team of ActionAid staff and partners were headed for the
communities to conduct a participatory review and reflection process usually carried
out annually to assess the extent to which our activities have caused changes in the
lives of poor people.Lekenturum maternity in Shongom was our first port of call, it was impressive to find out that in the last few months since May 2012 when the maternity was formally opened to use, immunization had gone up from zero to 74 while antenatal services and treatment of minor illnesses were ongoing as the facility could now boast of 7 staff newly posted from the LGA headquarters. Only one skilled attended birth had been recorded even though about 16 antenatal patients had been registered during the period.
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| Demonstratining power relations using venn diagram |
On the flip side, it was no surprise to the team to discover that some women would still trek 12km to the Government facility located in Lalaipida to get free drugs instead of paying a very subsidised amount in the facility at Lakenturum. According to one female participant “even if na N10. 00 we will go where it is free”. This shows clearly how economic empowerment can influence access to health especially for women. Another woman went further to say sometimes they deliver at home and that delivering babies at home is a game, its either life or death!
Knowing this why would a woman subject herself to such a gruelling experience that might ultimately lead to her death, one would ask? If not for the decay and rot in local governance!
This “Game”must certainly be put to an end, ActionAid and partners have avowed that they will not rest until the “Game is over” in Lakenturum, when women and children’s life will no longer hang on a balance. Every woman and child would have access to healthcare and cost will not be an impediment.
The queit town of Shela in Billiri was our next stop about 25km away from Lakenturum, the women were called in from nearby farms where they had gone to work. Although this exercise was not about spotting the difference one could not help but compare. Shela women are more politically sensitized and economically empowered. The women groups formed by ActionAid/Partner interventions had led to collective power which enabled them access fertilizers for their farms. They own big farms, plant and sell cash crops and keep the proceeds. According to a female participant, she said “Some of us even have bigger farms than our men and we plant millet, groundnut watermelon”. All cash crops. Another said, “ we were naked , we could not wear clothes before, but with Hope for the Lonely Interventions’,we sell our crops, clothe ourselves, pay our children’s school fees and take them to the hospital when ill”
 For Shela women, the block of classroom built by ActionAid/Partner has made children love school and parents can no longer stop them from going to school when it rains because the era of sitting under trees is over. However they have a dire need for a maternity or health centre as currently the community is served by a health post. |
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