FCTA Committed To Improving Health Care

By: Badaru Yakasai & Chukwunonso Chukwurah

The Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) is committed to improving the healthcare delivery to all residents of the Territory.

The Mandate Secretary, FCT Health Services and Environment Secretariat, Dr. Adedolapo Fasawe, gave this assurance while receiving a delegation from the African Union Commission that is on assessment tour to some selected hospitals in the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja.

Her words: “We wish to reiterate the determination and commitment of the FCT Administration to continually improve on the healthcare infrastructure of the Territory for the overall benefits of FCT resident.”

Accordingly, the African Union Commission delegation visited Maitama and Asokoro Districts Hospitals to assess their viability in commence a new department called Africa Humanitarian Department.

Mandate Secretary, who was represented at the occasion by the Permanent Secretary, FCT Health Services and Environment Secretariat, Dr. Baba Gana Adam, added that the FCT Minister, Nyeson Wike, is determined to upgrade some FCTA Hospitals with infrastructure.

Fasawe said that the FCT Administration places healthcare as key and a top priority as encapsulated in the ‘Renewed Hope Agenda’ of the President Bola Tinubu’s Administration.

To actual this, she said that the FCTA has concluded arrangements to give facelift to three hospitas in FCT namely: Gwagwalada, Utako and Gwarinpa General Hospitals.

Speaking earlier, the Acting Head Medical Laboratory, African Union Commission, who is also the leader of the delegation, Kalifa Manneh, said the purpose of the visit is to conduct assessment of medical and health services of FCT hospitals, namely , Maitama and Asokoro District Hospitals.

Manneh added that the African Union Commission received bids from four countries, namely Nigeria, Kenya, Equitional Guinea, and Uganda, on plans by the AU Commission to commence a new department called Africa Humanitarian Department.

He said that the Africa Union Commission sent 18-member delegation to assess FCT readiness to host the African Humanitarian Department, and so far,the two facilities visited have been above optimal.

The leader of the delegation asserted that moving forward, there is a need for the Administration to build on the current health care infrastructure as the facilities could be improved.

Welcoming guests, the Medical Director Maitama District hospital, Dr. Rita Idemudia, said that the hospital is working to be one of best in the healthcare delivery system in the Federal Capital Territory.

“The hospital’s mission is to provide affordable and accessable comprehensive care services using modern and appropriate technology and developed human resources with full community participation,” the Medical Director remarked.

Idemudia noted that the hospital has 426 staff strengths, out of which 327 are permanent, while 29 are locum staff in addition to the functional Intensive Care Unit and Dialysis Unit.