A youth advocacy group, Kebbi Progressive Youths (KEPYO), has strongly dismissed a viral Facebook post by one Bello Galadanci on the state of healthcare delivery in Kebbi State, describing it as nothing more than “sensationalism taken too far.”
In a statement issued to newsmen in Birnin Kebbi on Tuesday, the group’s spokesperson, Musa Usman, faulted the narrative which circulated widely on social media, alleging that hospitals in the state lack beds and basic amenities.
According to Usman, while it is true that some hospitals in the state have faced infrastructural challenges in the past, the current administration under Governor Nasir Idris has not only acknowledged the situation but also taken steps to comprehensively address it.
“Even the governor himself has admitted that there have been gaps in the healthcare sector. But rather than playing to the gallery, he has since commenced a holistic response. It is, therefore, unnecessary and misleading to make it appear as if nothing has been done,” Al-Kassim said.
He stressed that, contrary to Galadanci’s sweeping claims, many health facilities across Kebbi State have undergone significant overhauls in the last two years. These include the provision of new medical equipment, renovation of hospital buildings, and improvement of the work environment for healthcare professionals.
“Since assuming office, the governor has prioritised the welfare of health workers. More personnel have been recruited into the system, and steps have been taken to ensure that both old and new staff are motivated to deliver their best,” the statement added.
KEPYO criticised the Facebook post for circulating images purportedly from a state-owned hospital showing a patient lying on a bed without a mattress. According to them, such content was deliberately framed to provoke outrage without providing the full context of the situation.
“To dehumanise a patient by throwing his image into the public space and then making sweeping generalisations about the entire healthcare system is not investigative journalism. It is sensationalism, plain and simple. Healthcare delivery is a serious matter, and it requires serious-minded critique, not cheap theatrics for social media likes and shares,” Usman said.
He further noted that the state government had, on several occasions, temporarily shut down some hospitals to allow for renovation and upgrading works. While the group could not confirm whether the hospital shown in the viral video was one of such facilities undergoing repair, it insisted that using one isolated case to paint a grim picture of the whole state was both unfair and unprofessional.
“Many people forget that hospitals are not static. They are living facilities that require constant investment, maintenance, and sometimes, complete shutdown to enable proper upgrades. To ignore these realities and rush to social media with blanket condemnations only undermines the ongoing effort to improve the sector,” the statement read.
The group also urged social media users and citizen journalists to exercise caution and responsibility when raising issues of public concern. According to them, constructive criticism should be rooted in facts, context, and a genuine desire to see improvement, not in fueling sensational narratives that distort the actual picture.
“We understand that people are frustrated when they encounter lapses in service delivery. But it is counterproductive when individuals resort to dramatics that obscure progress and hard work already put in place. We appeal to the public to be discerning and not to take every Facebook rant as gospel truth,” Usman said.
KEPYO further reiterated its commitment to supporting the state government’s efforts in ensuring accessible and quality healthcare for all residents, stressing that the challenges in the sector are real but not insurmountable.
“As young people, we have a duty to be fair in our assessment of governance. Yes, there are gaps, but there are also measurable improvements. We must strike a balance and encourage the government where it is making progress while constructively engaging it on the areas that require more attention,” the statement concluded.
