The Forum of South-East Academic Doctors (FOSAD) expresses deep concern over the alarming and deplorable condition of critical public infrastructure in Achacha community, Igbeagu, Izzi Local Government Area of Ebonyi State.
Following recent field visits and visual documentation, FOSAD has observed firsthand the distressing state of the Community Primary School Achacha and the Community Health Centre Achacha — both of which are operating under conditions unfit for learning, healthcare delivery, and human dignity.
The situation is particularly troubling given that Izzi LGA is the home local government area of the Executive Governor of Ebonyi State, His Excellency, Francis Nwifuru.
State of the Community Primary School
Images and videos from the Community Primary School Achacha reveal a severely under-resourced institution struggling to provide even the most basic learning environment for children.
Pupils are seen seated on crude wooden planks in overcrowded classrooms with bare floors and no adequate furniture. The classroom structures are incomplete, poorly ventilated, and lack proper finishing. The roofing sheets are exposed beneath visible wooden trusses, and there are no ceilings. Learning materials are scarce, and the environment does not reflect the minimum standards expected of a public primary school.
The condition of the school office further underscores systemic neglect. The administrative space is sparsely furnished, cluttered with outdated materials, and lacks functional equipment necessary for effective record-keeping and school management.
The images depict children of tender ages learning in conditions that undermine both their dignity and educational development. FOSAD considers this unacceptable in a 21st-century educational system.
Condition of the Community Health Centre
Equally distressing is the state of the Community Health Centre Achacha, which serves as the primary health facility for residents of the community.
The facility appears grossly under-equipped, with inadequate medical supplies and furniture. Basic infrastructure necessary for delivering primary healthcare services — including reliable electricity, potable water, and functional medical equipment — is either lacking or severely limited.
In rural communities such as Achacha, primary health centres are often the first and only point of medical contact for pregnant women, children, the elderly, and emergency cases. Operating such a facility without adequate infrastructure places lives at risk and undermines the government’s commitment to primary healthcare development.
Absence of Potable Water and Electricity
Beyond the school and health centre, the broader community suffers from a lack of potable water and reliable electricity supply.
Photographic evidence shows residents navigating dry, eroded landscapes in search of water. The absence of a functional borehole forces reliance on unsafe and unsustainable water sources, posing serious public health risks including waterborne diseases.
Electricity supply is either non-existent or unreliable, further crippling the operations of both the school and health centre. Without power, vaccine storage, lighting for night-time medical emergencies, and digital educational tools remain impossible.
Call for Government Action
FOSAD calls on the Ebonyi State Government, particularly Governor Francis Nwifuru, to urgently intervene and prioritise the rehabilitation and upgrading of:
- Community Primary School Achacha — including provision of classrooms, desks, teaching materials, sanitation facilities, and teacher support infrastructure.
- Community Health Centre Achacha — including equipment upgrade, water supply installation, solar-powered electricity, and staffing support.
- Community-wide potable water access through the drilling of boreholes.
- Sustainable electricity solutions, particularly solar installations for public institutions.
While community-based and faith-based interventions are commendable, the provision of basic public infrastructure remains a constitutional responsibility of government.
FOSAD emphasizes that access to quality primary education, healthcare, clean water, and electricity are not privileges but fundamental rights. Rural communities must not be left behind in the state’s development agenda.
The condition of Achacha community reflects broader structural inequalities affecting many rural settlements. Addressing these gaps will not only improve human development indicators but also reinforce public trust in governance.
We urge Governor Francis Nwifuru to demonstrate leadership and compassion by commissioning an urgent needs assessment and initiating prompt remedial measures in Achacha, Izzi LGA.
The children deserve a safe learning environment.
The sick deserve dignified healthcare.
The community deserves clean water and electricity.
Signed:
Dr Stephen Nwala
President, Forum of South East Academic Doctors (FOSAD)
Dr Uzor Ngoladi
Secretary General, Forum of South East Academic Doctors (FOSAD)
www.fosads.org
