COMMUNITY IN CRISIS: Mbayaghe and Okaraba Residents Threaten Election Boycott Over Collapsed Health Centre
Our Staff Residents of Mbayaghe and Okaraba communities in Cross River State’s Boki Local Government Area have issued a stern warning to politicians, threatening to boycott future elections over the deplorable state of the Primary Health Centre in Panyia Bawop.
The protest, which drew scores of concerned residents, highlighted years of neglect of the facility meant to serve as the first point of care for rural dwellers. 
Protesters carried placards and chanted solidarity songs, decrying the centre’s condition.”Our people are dying because there is no functional health facility,” a protester said. “If nothing is done, there will be no elections here.”An assessment revealed a facility in severe disrepair, with leaking roofs, absence of hospital beds, and dilapidated structures.
Residents said the situation worsens during rainfall, making it unsafe for patients and healthcare workers.Community members expressed frustration that political representatives, including House of Representatives member Victor Abang, have not intervened.
They criticised State Assembly member Hilary Bisong and Senator Williams Eteng for allegedly failing to draw the government’s attention to the situation.
Residents alleged that medical personnel posted to the centre are unable to reside there due to its poor condition, leaving the community without reliable access to healthcare.
The consequences, they say, have been dire.Pregnant women are forced to undertake long and risky journeys to neighbouring communities for antenatal care, with delays reportedly resulting in deaths during childbirth.
A community leader, Chief Patrick Abang Odu, recounted a near-fatal incident on Easter Sunday involving two accident victims. “They were brought to the clinic in critical condition, but there was no one to attend to them,” he said.The communities called on the Cross River State Primary Health Care Development Agency and relevant authorities to urgently intervene and restore the facility.
Efforts to reach officials for comment were unsuccessful.A state health official acknowledged the challenges facing rural health facilities, assuring that the government is working to address infrastructure gaps. Residents, however, demand immediate action: “This is not politics; this is about our lives. We need a hospital that works.”
