The attention of the Federal Capital Territory Administration has been drawn to a newspaper publication saying that FCTA hospitals were currently rendering skeletal services due to the death of 20 medical doctors from COVID-19. This figure which is very far from the truth was credited to Dr Enema Amodu, the Chairman of the FCT chapter of the Nigerian Medical Association. in a statement made available to Transport Day, Although Dr Amodu has since said that he was misquoted, as the 20 fatalities he quoted was the national figure cutting across the 36 States of the Federation and the FCT, it is still pertinent that the FCTA sets the records straight in view of the fact that public confidence in public health institutions is very essential in the face of the current public health emergency orchestrated by COVID-19.
According to Dr Mohammed Kawu, Ag Secretary of the Health and Human Services Secretariat of the FCTA, The current situation in FCTA hospitals as at Monday, 28th December 2020 are as follows:
All FCTA hospitals are operating at full capacity inclusive of emergencies for adults and children, delivery and maternity services, theatre services (operating 24 hour services), laboratory and pharmaceutical services, and hospital kitchens. All clinics will resume full services after the Christmas holidays on Tuesday, 29th of December, 2020
While there had been incidences where COVID-19 positive patients had infected some medical personnel, these personnel and indeed the patients have been treated and discharged and the affected hospital areas fully decontaminated without any adverse effect on the overall functionality of the hospitals. According to records available to the FCTA, since the first case of COVID-19 was recorded in the FCT on March 27th 2020, a total of 4 doctors working in both public and private hospitals have regrettably succumbed to the disease. The latest, being a female doctor from Gwarimpa General hospital, who passed on two weeks ago and a private medical doctor over the last one week. It is important to mention that these fatalities have not in any way adversely affected the quality of services rendered in these hospitals and most certainly not to the point of rendering skeletal services.
The FCTA has since the beginning of the pandemic been in the forefront of the fight against COVID-19 and remains as committed as ever in efforts to contain the spread of the disease. The Administration has continued to place a lot of emphasis on testing and was the first sub-national to reach the testing target of 1% of its population as recommended by the NCDC.
There are adequate supplies of PPEs in all the hospitals and efforts are being made to procure even more in the light of the second wave of transmission. Emphasis is also being placed on the provision of high dependency care units in all COVID 19treatment centres. The medical personnel will continue to take all precautionary measures in the treatment of COVI-10 patents.
All residents of the FCT are enjoined to observe all health and safety protocols to contain the spread of the virus by observing physical distancing, frequent hand washing and facial coverings.
