The Budi community, both in the country and abroad, has joined hands to raise money for Chukudum County Hospital after it ran low on essential medical supplies.
Last week, the hospital administrator, Austine Lokang Kaito,
reported a lack of essential items such as blood bags, gloves, and plasters. He
mentioned that he spoke with the state Ministry of Health and other health
partners about the issue, but there was no quick response.
In response, the community decided to raise funds to help
the hospital continue its services.
“When you check on the issue of the blood bags. These are
essential things and when they are not there, we shall lose people, we lose
mothers and children but now we are responding as the community, the community
contribution is ongoing across Budi, those in diaspora and those within the
country,” said Lokang.
Lokang noted that contributions are still coming in, but he
did not disclose the total amount collected so far. He also confirmed that the
hospital borrowed blood bags from other county hospitals in the state for
urgent cases.
He encouraged the community to take ownership of local
health facilities, particularly when the government cannot provide all the
necessary support.
"We need to own the facilities that we have across the
state. You know, these facilities were constructed by the government, but they
are ours. Sometimes, with the current economy, the government is not able to
provide support on time, and the community has to take ownership of the
hospital and contribute toward its essential care,” he stated.
He added that this is the first time the community has
raised money for the hospital. Last year, community members donated mattresses.