Reps to probe FCT health facilities, demand emergency measures
The House of Representatives has resolved to launch a comprehensive investigation into the state of healthcare facilities in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), with a directive to submit a report within four weeks, including actionable recommendations for improvement.
The lawmakers also called for a state of emergency in the FCT’s health sector to address pressing challenges.
In its resolution following a motion of urgent public importance sponsored by Hon. Nnamdi Ezechi (APC, Delta), the House urged the Federal Ministry of Health to collaborate with the FCT Administration in conducting an immediate assessment of all health facilities.
The goal is to identify critical areas requiring expansion, upgrades, and better resource allocation.
The House further advocated for the release of emergency funds for the upgrading of hospitals, recruitment of medical personnel, and procurement of essential medical equipment.
It also encouraged the FCT Administration to engage private sector players and international health agencies to boost healthcare delivery capacity in the short term, pending the implementation of long-term strategies.
Lawmakers also called on the Federal Government to develop a long-term healthcare infrastructure plan that reflects the growing population of the FCT and guarantees sustainable and quality healthcare services.
Moving the motion, Ezechi draw attention to what he called the alarming strain on the healthcare system in the Federal Capital
Territory (FCT), with government hospitals and medical facilities being severely overstretched, resulting in a critical shortage of bed spaces and medical personnel.
He said the population of the FCT has surged significantly over the past two decades, while many of the existing government hospitals were constructed several years ago, with little or no expansion to match the growing demand for healthcare services.
He lamented that patients in need of critical medical attention are often left unattended or subjected to long waiting hours due to the unavailability of hospital beds and limited capacity of existing facilities, leading to preventable loss of lives daily.
According to him, the lack of sufficient medical personnel, including doctors,
nurses, and other healthcare workers, further exacerbates the crisis, reducing the quality of care and increasing the burden on the few available staff.
He said if immediate interventions are not made, the healthcare crisis may escalate to unmanageable levels, undermining the right to health and threatening the well-being of residents in the nation’s capital.
He added that a strategic review and upgrade of health infrastructure in the FCT,balong with a comprehensive recruitment drive for medical professionals, will address the urgent needs and ensure better health outcomes.
