Akwa Ibom Communities Cry Out as Mount Carmel Hospital in Ibesikpo Asutan Lies in Ruins for Years, Exposing Deep Neglect of Rural Healthcare Infrastructure
Residents of Akpautong community in Ibesikpo Asutan Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom State are facing severe hardship as Mount Carmel Hospital—the only primary healthcare facility serving at least six surrounding communities—has fallen into advanced decay after years of abandonment. The situation was uncovered by the Tracka monitoring team during its nationwide assessment of primary healthcare centres, revealing widespread neglect of rural health facilities.
According to the report, large sections of the hospital are unusable, with roofs blown off by wind, cracked walls, damaged floors, overgrown bushes, and broken, rusted hospital beds scattered across wards. The facility lacks basic amenities such as running water, electricity, and proper sanitation, forcing health workers to rely on personal funds, generators, and purchased water to carry out basic medical services.
For over seven years, only the female ward has remained partially functional, now overcrowded and used to admit men, women, and children together amid unsafe conditions that increase infection risks. Despite this, doctors and nurses continue to work daily, showing dedication in the face of life-threatening conditions.
Civic organisations Tracka and MonITNG condemned the neglect, noting the stark contrast between the hospital’s condition and Akwa Ibom State’s ₦1.65 trillion revised 2025 budget and declared state of emergency in the health sector. They also referenced the Federal Government’s ₦32.9 billion Basic Health Care Provision Fund (BHCPF) allocation for Q4 2025, expected to be disbursed from January 2026, stressing that there is no justification for continued neglect of rural hospitals.
The groups called for urgent rehabilitation of Mount Carmel Hospital, urging the Akwa Ibom State Government and relevant authorities to bridge the urban–rural healthcare gap and ensure access to safe, dignified healthcare for all citizens, regardless of location.
Residents of Akpautong community in Ibesikpo Asutan Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom State are facing severe hardship as Mount Carmel Hospital—the only primary healthcare facility serving at least six surrounding communities—has fallen into advanced decay after years of abandonment. The situation was uncovered by the Tracka monitoring team during its nationwide assessment of primary healthcare centres, revealing widespread neglect of rural health facilities.
According to the report, large sections of the hospital are unusable, with roofs blown off by wind, cracked walls, damaged floors, overgrown bushes, and broken, rusted hospital beds scattered across wards. The facility lacks basic amenities such as running water, electricity, and proper sanitation, forcing health workers to rely on personal funds, generators, and purchased water to carry out basic medical services.
For over seven years, only the female ward has remained partially functional, now overcrowded and used to admit men, women, and children together amid unsafe conditions that increase infection risks. Despite this, doctors and nurses continue to work daily, showing dedication in the face of life-threatening conditions.
Civic organisations Tracka and MonITNG condemned the neglect, noting the stark contrast between the hospital’s condition and Akwa Ibom State’s ₦1.65 trillion revised 2025 budget and declared state of emergency in the health sector. They also referenced the Federal Government’s ₦32.9 billion Basic Health Care Provision Fund (BHCPF) allocation for Q4 2025, expected to be disbursed from January 2026, stressing that there is no justification for continued neglect of rural hospitals.
The groups called for urgent rehabilitation of Mount Carmel Hospital, urging the Akwa Ibom State Government and relevant authorities to bridge the urban–rural healthcare gap and ensure access to safe, dignified healthcare for all citizens, regardless of location.
Akwa Ibom Communities Cry Out as Mount Carmel Hospital in Ibesikpo Asutan Lies in Ruins for Years, Exposing Deep Neglect of Rural Healthcare Infrastructure
Residents of Akpautong community in Ibesikpo Asutan Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom State are facing severe hardship as Mount Carmel Hospital—the only primary healthcare facility serving at least six surrounding communities—has fallen into advanced decay after years of abandonment. The situation was uncovered by the Tracka monitoring team during its nationwide assessment of primary healthcare centres, revealing widespread neglect of rural health facilities.
According to the report, large sections of the hospital are unusable, with roofs blown off by wind, cracked walls, damaged floors, overgrown bushes, and broken, rusted hospital beds scattered across wards. The facility lacks basic amenities such as running water, electricity, and proper sanitation, forcing health workers to rely on personal funds, generators, and purchased water to carry out basic medical services.
For over seven years, only the female ward has remained partially functional, now overcrowded and used to admit men, women, and children together amid unsafe conditions that increase infection risks. Despite this, doctors and nurses continue to work daily, showing dedication in the face of life-threatening conditions.
Civic organisations Tracka and MonITNG condemned the neglect, noting the stark contrast between the hospital’s condition and Akwa Ibom State’s ₦1.65 trillion revised 2025 budget and declared state of emergency in the health sector. They also referenced the Federal Government’s ₦32.9 billion Basic Health Care Provision Fund (BHCPF) allocation for Q4 2025, expected to be disbursed from January 2026, stressing that there is no justification for continued neglect of rural hospitals.
The groups called for urgent rehabilitation of Mount Carmel Hospital, urging the Akwa Ibom State Government and relevant authorities to bridge the urban–rural healthcare gap and ensure access to safe, dignified healthcare for all citizens, regardless of location.
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