Community Blocks Alleged Removal of Hospital Equipment in Kaura, Demands Official Explanation
By Our Correspondent, Kaduna
Residents of Kaura Community in Kaura Local Government Area of Kaduna State on Wednesday prevented the alleged removal of critical equipment from the Rural Hospital, Kaura, insisting that no item would leave the facility without a clear directive from the appropriate authorities.
The action followed reports that a man arrived at the hospital with a pickup vehicle to evacuate equipment, including hospital beds, a Mikano generator, a step-down transformer and an ambulance.
The development sparked tension within the community as residents mobilised to stop the operation, arguing that many of the items targeted for removal were donated through contributions by indigenes of Kaura.
Speaking in a telephone interview, the Public Relations Officer of the Kaura Community, Anthony Timothy, said residents acted after receiving information that efforts were underway to move the remaining equipment from the hospital.
According to him, about 75 per cent of the hospital beds were donated by community members, while the Mikano generator and step-down transformer were also acquired through communal support.
Timothy said community leaders subsequently met with the Matron and Deputy Matron of the hospital, who allegedly denied having prior knowledge of plans to remove the equipment.
He further claimed that a letter presented as authorisation for the exercise lacked official acknowledgement and a receiving stamp, raising concerns among residents over its authenticity.
“We will not allow anything to move out of this place because enough is enough,” Timothy said.
“We cannot continue to watch people come and remove items from the hospital while we are waiting for the completion of the renovation and for new facilities to be brought in.”
The community spokesman alleged that previous removals from the hospital included items originally donated by residents.
He identified the individual who reportedly came to supervise the exercise as Leo Zamani, alleging that he arrived with a pickup vehicle and had already marked the ambulance and Mikano generator before community members challenged the operation.
According to Timothy, Zamani claimed he had been sent from Kaduna, but residents were unaware of any official authorisation backing the exercise.
“To the best of my knowledge, he is not a health worker. I know him as somebody involved in politics,” Timothy alleged.
“Everything was being handled through the accountant, while the Matron and Deputy Matron were not aware of what was happening.”
The situation later attracted security personnel after reports of a disturbance at the hospital.
However, Timothy said officers who arrived at the scene found no violence but rather residents peacefully resisting the removal of the equipment pending clarification from government authorities.
As of Wednesday evening, none of the items had been removed, with community members maintaining that hospital assets would remain in place until a formal explanation was provided.
When contacted, a senior official of the Kaduna State Primary Healthcare Board, who requested anonymity because he was not authorised to speak publicly on the matter, said the board was not aware of the incident but would investigate.
“I’m not aware. But I will investigate it and get back to you. I know that if something like that would happen, it should come through the local health authority in the local government,” the official said.
No further official response had been received as of the time of filing this report.
The incident has heightened concerns among residents over the future of the hospital as the community awaits the completion of ongoing renovation works and the restoration of full health services.
