Residents of Tanke community in Tanke Local Government Area of Kwara State have expressed concern over the non-completion of the health centre in the community.

Some residents told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) that the development had hindered their easy access to healthcare.

NAN learnt that the state government began the construction of the health centre two years ago.

Mudashiru Akande, a tailor, told NAN in Ilorin on Monday, that the development had led to the non-availability of basic health services in the community.

Akande said most pregnant women travelled long distances to access health services, while others did not register for antenatal services.

The community head, Alhaji Umaru Salawudeen, called on the state government to hasten the construction of the centre to check the rate of maternal and child mortality among the people.

He said that in most cases, mothers either suffered delays in getting to the hospital or were delivered at home by traditional birth attendants.

"Sometime last month, there was a case of a woman who lost her life and that of the baby, this could have been avoided if the health centre was fully operational,” Salawudeen said.

He said it was sad that the government had not completed the health centre, stressing that the timely completion of the project would enhance medical care in the community.

A NAN correspondent, who visited the community, observed that skeletal services were carried out in the centre.

The Chief Matron of the health centre, Mrs Adiat Ismail, explained that due to the slow pace of construction work in the centre, women in the community accessed medical services in distant places.

"I am now appealing to the state government to help us complete the hospital on time so that we will be able to work, presently; we are handicapped.

"Most of the pregnant women go long distances to be delivered of their babies, leading to complications.

She said this was a challenge and harmful to the health of women and children in the area.