By Asma’u Ahmad
The administration of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), plans to build specialised centre where patients with infectious diseases in the territory will be quarantined and given adequate treatment.
Chief Press Secretary to the minister, Alhaji Hamzat Bello, made the disclosure in a statement issued to newsmen in Abuja.
The statement said the minister, Malam Muhammad Bello, made the announcement when members of the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA), FCT chapter, led by its chairman, Dr. Chiedozie Achonwa visited him.
The chief press secretary said that the establishment of such centre was in the front burner of his administration because of the benefits it would bring to the residents. He expressed surprise that patients suspected to be infected with Lassa fever recently were initially kept at the National Hospital; a situation he described as ‘unfortunate.’
“I have discussed with some of your colleagues on the need to have a specialised centre for infectious diseases,’’ the statement quoted the minister as saying.
He said the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) was partnering with private individuals to establish new hospitals within the FCT to address the challenge of hospital bed spaces noticed in the territory.
The minister said that the collaboration of stakeholders was needed to address the challenge as government alone could not address it.
The minister said he was impressed that some private individuals were already embarking on hospital projects to address the situation.
The statement said that the NMA FCT chairman told the minister that the association intends to resuscitate its existing rural health programme to serve rural dwellers and contribute to the sustainable goals of the territory.
He assured the minister of the cooperation of the association, but stressed the need for increased health infrastructure in the FCT considering the daily influx of people into the territory
