Nigeria, March 21 -- As dusk settles over the Dansarai community in Malumfashi Local Government Area of Katsina State, activity at the primary health centre begins to reduce. Inside the female ward, two patients lie on metal-framed beds while relatives hover nearby, waiting for the evening routine to wind down. By nightfall, most non-critical cases are expected to return home.

The Dansarai primary healthcare centre, as well as a similar one in neighbouring Dayi, is officially designated to provide round-the-clock basic healthcare services to the surrounding rural communities. However, PREMIUM TIMES field visits revealed notable gaps between policy and after-hours realities.

While Dayi PHC maintains limited overnight coverage supported b...