Connect with us

Health

COVID-19: FCT Minister commends UN for its contribution

Published

on

The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, Malam Muhammad Musa Bello, has commended the United Nations for its continued support to the FCT in the fight against COVID 19.

Advertisements

He gave the commendation when he received the UN Resident/Humanitarian Coordinator to Nigeria, Ambassador Edward Kallon and his team on a courtesy visit to the FCTA, attributing the successes achieved in the FCT in the fight against the virus, to partnerships and cooperation from the UN and other development partners.

Advertisements

In a statement by the Chief Press Secretary to the Minister, Mr Anthony Ogunleyw, Bello assured his guests that the FCTA was working assiduously to strengthen its healthcare facilities to enhance its capacity to confront the outbreak of any infectious disease, stressing that its preparedness has thus far aided it in effectively combating the first and second waves of the COVID-19 pandemic.

He said: “We have established good protocols to make sure that we handle this third wave. The protocols that we have established during the first wave and the second wave have helped us tremendously and the experience and institutional capacity we’ve been able to develop during the last two phases is also helping us now”.

“For instance, Malam Bello continued, we are comfortable now with the production and storage of oxygen in the FCT. We have a number of plants that are up and running, some under the Federal Government and quite a few under the FCT administration”

“We have now under the FCTA, a facility where we can take in up to 80 patients at one go who require full oxygen and this is piped to their beds where they can be taken care of. By the grace of God, we have never had the occasion to require the services of that facility, but it’s there. The medical personnel are there, all the trainings have been done. This is one investment that we have done at huge cost, but we pray that we never use it”, the Minister added.

Malam Bello also assured his guests that the FCTA will not relent in its responsibility of keeping residents safe and will continue to encourage them to adhere to all non-pharmaceutical protocols and getting vaccinated.

Speaking on the 10thanniversary of the UN building bombing, the Minister said it was a sad event that could not be forgotten in a hurry and expressed happiness at the opportunity of working to rehabilitate the building even better than it was prior to the incident.

Earlier Ambassador Edward Kallon had commended the Minister for facilitating the rehabilitation of the UN House after the 2011 attack, adding that though it was a very sad day for the UN family, the defiance of the government of Nigeria against terrorism, as indicated in the investment made to rehabilitate the building, has kept hope alive.

Kallon also cautioned against complacency in the fight against COVID 19, especially in the face of the third wave of the virus, which he described as more potent, advising on the adherence to non-pharmaceutical safety protocols.

Advertisements

Health

National hospital, private institutions sign MoU to strengthen healthcare workforce

Published

on

The Federal Government has facilitated the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the National Hospital and four private institutions to enhance the capacity of the healthcare workforce.

Advertisements

The participating institutions include Nile University, Cosmopolitan University, Yangongwo College of Nursing Sciences, and Concerned Medix Foundation.

Advertisements

This was disclosed in a statement signed by the Ministry’s Deputy Director of Information and Public Relations, Mr. Alaba Balogun on Friday.

Alaba revealed that during the signing ceremony, the Coordinating Minister of Health & Social Welfare, Prof. Muhammad Ali Pate, emphasized that the MoU aligns with the administration’s policy to expand training capacities.

Prof. Pate further highlighted that this initiative reflects President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s commitment to increasing the training of health workers, addressing workforce gaps, and maintaining professional standards through the Regulatory and Professional Schools Division of the Hospital Services Department of the Ministry.

He stressed the government’s responsibility to tackle multiple challenges, including infrastructure, equipment, and human capital development, noting that Nigerian health workers are highly sought after due to their excellent training.

“Thankfully, because they are well-trained, we are very proud of them. If we weren’t training them, they wouldn’t have been attractive to other countries.

“Unfortunately, that has implications on the service delivery at home. So as a government, we took a progressive stance to say, look, let’s train more.

“So that even if those who are trained leave, some will stay. And even those who have gone away might come back to serve. And, that is the driving force behind this policy approval by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu,” the Coordinating Minister pointed out.

Prof. Pate also underscored the crucial role of the private sector in achieving the government’s objectives, noting that Nigeria’s healthcare system operates as a mix of public and private institutions.

“So, the private sector has a space, and I am very pleased that you have joined hands with the National Hospital to be able to really see how the capabilities of the hospital can help you train more clinicians”, he said.

Speaking at the event, the Chief Medical Director of the National Hospital, Prof. Raji Mahmud, commended President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for prioritizing improvements in the healthcare system.

He affirmed that the collaboration and signing of the MoU between the National Hospital and private institutions would significantly expand healthcare workforce training.

Prof. Mahmud further noted that three out of the four institutions are primarily training centers focused on medical and nursing education in partnership with the National Hospital, Abuja.

Advertisements
Continue Reading

Health

President Tinubu appoints Chief Medical Directors for medical centres across the country

Published

on

In a bid to enhance medical care for Nigerians, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has appointed six new Chief Medical Directors (CMDs) for Federal Hospitals across the country.

Advertisements

Among those appointed is Dr. Ikrama Hassan, who will now serve as the Chief Medical Director of the Federal Teaching Hospital, Lafia, Nasarawa State. Dr. Hassan, a seasoned consultant physician, previously served as the Medical Director of Dalhatu Araf Specialist Hospital before its elevation to a teaching hospital.

Advertisements

The full list of newly appointed CMDs includes:

Prof. Olusegun Sylvester Ojo – Federal Teaching Hospital, Akure, Ondo State.
Prof. Yusuf Mohammed Abdullahi (Reappointed) – Federal Teaching Hospital, Gombe.
Dr. Dauda Abubakar Katagum – Federal Teaching Hospital, Azare, Bauchi State.
Dr. Ikrama Hassan – Federal Teaching Hospital, Lafia, Nasarawa State.
Dr. Ali Mohammed Ramat – National Orthopedic Hospital, Maiduguri, Borno State.
Dr. Haruna Abubakar Shehu – Federal Medical Centre, Kafanchan, Kaduna State.
Each appointment is for a four-year term, effective from the date of assumption of duty.

President Tinubu congratulated the appointees, urging them to uphold the highest standards of professionalism and service delivery. He reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to improving medical infrastructure and ensuring quality healthcare access for all Nigerians.

Advertisements
Continue Reading

Health

Kebbi Senator calls for establishment of Federal Medical Centre in Zuru, Kebbi State

Published

on

Senator Garba Maidoki

Senator representing Kebbi South Senatorial District, Garba Maidoki has called for the establishment of a Federal Medical Centre to be situated in Zuru to cater for the health needs of the District and its environs.

Advertisements

The lawmaker in the 10th National Assembly made the call during a public hearing on the Bill to establish Federal Medical Centre in Zuru organized by the Senate Committee on Health.

Advertisements

In a memorandum presented at the hearing by the lawmaker, he explained that the aim is to provide tertiary healthcare facilities to the people of Zuru in Kebbi State in the North West Nigeria.

He further noted that the establishment of FMCs across the country was initiated by Decree No. 10 of 1985, with the aim of providing tertiary healthcare services.

According to him, the FMC Birnin Kebbi was established on June 6, 2000, and has since been upgraded to a University Teaching Hospital.

The lawmaker stated that the large population and the challenges faced in accessing healthcare services, necessitates the establishment of FMC in the state.

“In Birnin Kebbi, the state capital, the distance between Zuru Emirate and Birnin Kebbi is approximately 240 km, making it difficult for patients, especially children and pregnant women, to access secondary and tertiary healthcare facilities”, he lamented.

Senator Maidoki charged his colleagues and the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare to support the bill, saying healthcare is a fundamental privilege expected from any government.

The lawmaker who is the sponsor of the bill told journalists during a chat that the Federal Medical Center, when established will not only cater for the tertiary healthcare needs of Kebbi State, but will also serve the adjoining states like Niger and Zamfara.

Advertisements
Continue Reading

Trending


Address: 1st Floor, Nwakpabi Plaza, Suite 110, Waziri Ibrahim Crescent, Apo, Abuja
Tel: +234 7036084449; +234 7012711701
Email: capitalpost20@gmail.com | info@capitalpost.ng
Copyright © 2025 Capital Post