THE Women Farmers Advancement Network (WOFAN-ICON2), with support from MasterCard Foundation and in partnership with Benson Colman and Associate Limited has provided a ‘Lab-ulance’ to support the healthcare system of a farming community in Gwarimpa village, Federal Capital Territory (FCT).
This is part of its activities to mark this year’s International Women’s Day celebration.
The Lab-ulance is a tricycle fully kitted with medical equipment such as laboratory equipment, midwifery equipment, refrigerator powered by a solar system and other basic health equipment.
Executive Director of WOFAN, Hajia Salamatu Garba, while interacting with journalists at the unveiling of the programme, said the initiative was borne out of the concerns that farmers too need to be healthy before they can farm.
“It is the same thing that we are talking about and it is where holistic development is missing in Nigeria, because someone is farming doesn’t mean that after giving him fertiliser and seed, then you go and fold your arms, no.
“Farmers need to remain healthy before he can produce food for us sustainably. And if you look at the farming communities, they lack access to roads, healthcare facilities and so on. They can’t at first hand get services for their families.
“This was what brought the issue of Lab-ulance. These are youth that are working with WOFAN that decided to go innovative and come up with a very simple and affordable transport system that can also carry a doctor.
“In this Lab-ulance, we have the midwifery, we have the laboratory equipment, we have every equipment you need, including a refrigerator that is powered by solar system. This is the kind of development that we need in Nigeria,” Hajia Garba said.
She said it is ideal for every ward in Nigeria to have this system linked to primary healthcare and doctors would not be seen running away from duties because they have necessary facilities.
She said the women are required to pay only N2,500 as health insurance which will cover their husband and two children.
For a start, Hajia Garba said WOFAN will pay 6 months health insurance fee for 450 women after which they are expected to sustain it.
“Now look at a woman who is required to pay N2,500 per month for a family of Husband, wife and two children, that takes care of any healthcare that they need. So, it is like we are contributing collectively in the community to address this situation.
“This is a farming community that is gaining access to health, addressing their own issues by themselves.
“We are paying for 6 months for 3 clusters now, we are piloting, because at the start of this programme, people see it as a gimmick, it is surprising that this is a farmers’ network that decided to do this by themselves.
“One cluster is made up of 150 people, so, we have 450 people, we are starting with them. We are taking this campaign to the Nigerian Governor’s Forum, let them see how little can be done to serve the community at large”, she added.
The Village Head of Gwarimpa, Mr Yakubu Bayaro commended WOFAN for bringing the initiative to the community. He said the initiative will go a long way in making healthcare accessible to the community.
