Reported by: Oahimire Omone Precious | Edited by: Oravbiere Osayomore Promise.
If you cannot afford a private hospital in Neni ward, your life is at risk. This has been the grim reality for residents since at least 2023. The Neni Primary Health Centre in Umuabani, Anaocha Local Government Area of Anambra State, serves over 14,000 people, over half of whom cannot afford private treatment. Yet, the facility is in a completely deplorable condition. The building has no medical equipment, mold‑infested walls, a broken ceiling, and some parts of the PHC have had their roofs totally removed, according to a recent report from Tracka, a project monitoring platform. The report, which has sparked outrage online, calls on the Anambra State Government, the National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA), and the Federal Ministry of Health to urgently renovate and equip the facility to improve health service delivery.
The dilapidated state of the PHC stands in stark contrast to the government’s own stated ambitions. The Anambra State Government had previously announced that all 326 primary healthcare centres in the state would be fully renovated and equipped with solar power, boreholes, staff quarters, diagnostic equipment, and drug revolving funds by the end of 2026, ensuring every ward has a functional, 24/7 PHC. Governor Chukwuma Soludo had earlier marked the rehabilitation of 130 PHCs across the state as a major achievement, with reports indicating that they had been rehabilitated with solar lights, constant water supply, and functional generating sets. However, the Neni PHC’s condition suggests these efforts have not yet reached the Anaocha LGA.
The Umuabani PHC is located along the Agulu-Neni road and serves as a critical healthcare provider for a community that is the headquarters of the Anaocha LGA. The hospital's address is Umuabani Neni. Along Agulu -Neni road Neni 11 Anaocha, Anambra, Nigeria. The population of Neni is substantial, and many residents rely on the facility for basic healthcare. While the Anaocha Local Government Area has seen some health initiatives—such as the Mayor’s distribution of 232 medical equipment to 23 health facilities in October 2025 and the commissioning of a solar-powered borehole at the Neni Health Centre in January 2026—these efforts appear to have bypassed the primary health centre in Umuabani.
The Tracka report highlights a dangerous reliance on private healthcare in a community where most cannot afford it. A resident’s lament that “if you cannot afford a private hospital in Neni ward, your life is at risk” has become a chilling mantra for the community. With the rainy season intensifying, the building’s exposed sections are likely worsening, and the lack of basic equipment means that even common ailments can escalate into emergencies. The community is now appealing directly to Governor Soludo, the NPHCDA, and the Federal Ministry of Health to intervene immediately. The hashtag #FixOurPHCs has been used to draw attention to the facility, which has been in this state for years.
The failure of the Neni PHC reflects a broader crisis in primary healthcare delivery in Nigeria. A nationwide report found that at least 3,715 PHCs across 19 states and the FCT are non‑operational, and the Neni facility is a local example of this national failure. While the Anambra State Government has pointed to the rehabilitation of 130 PHCs as evidence of progress, the Neni PHC’s condition suggests that many facilities remain neglected. The government’s own plan to have all 326 PHCs fully functional by the end of 2026 now appears to be in jeopardy, as the Neni facility remains in a state of decay.
The community is not asking for luxury; they are asking for a roof over their heads, walls free of mold, and the most basic diagnostic tools. Without these, the Neni PHC is not a health centre; it is a death trap. The question now is whether the government will act before another life is lost in a building that should have been repaired years ago. The clock is ticking, and the people of Neni are watching.
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