…warns medical workers against patient exploitation or face sanction
The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has taken steps to alleviate the impact of the ongoing 7-day strike by the Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors (NARD), which was triggered by the abduction of one of their members, Ganiyat Popoola.
In response to the strike, the minister has deployed additional medical doctors and medical commodities to ensure continued patient care.
The medical personnel have, however, been cautioned against exploiting the situation by denying patients the attention and medical supplies they need during this critical period.
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According to the Mandate Secretary of Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) Health Services and Environment Secretariat, Adedolapo Fasawe, directives had been issued for the health facilities to be empowered with basic medical consumables such as plasters, cotton wool, spirit, gloves, dry swabs, and wet swabs, among others, to protect patients from exploitation by unscrupulous workers.
In a statement by her media adviser, Bola Ajao on Thursday, the Mandate Secretary made the disclosure when she paid an inspection visit to Asokoro District Hospital to assess the impact of the ongoing strike on patients, where she further revealed that provisions have also been made to ensure the availability of cleaning materials through various outsourced cleaning organizations.
This, she said was to ensure that no patients or their relatives should be forced to provide these materials.
However, to reinforce her message, Fasawe issued a stern warning to all FCTA hospitals to desist from exploiting innocent patients and their relatives under the pretext of a lack of consumables, or they will face the full extent of the law.
Emphasizing that Abuja Central Medical Stores must ensure that hospital pharmacies are well-stocked to meet public demand at all times, Fasawe said: “As medical doctors sworn to the Hippocratic Oath, we are obligated to return to the field and take up the challenge of providing adequate care to our people, bridging the gap caused by our striking colleagues.
“This responsibility has been embraced by every one of us, myself included, as we engage with patients, consult, and offer support where and when necessary to keep the system running as one cohesive health family.”
The Head of Clinical Services at the hospital, Rosie Nwokorie, assured the Mandate Secretariat of the smooth operation of the hospitals and the commitment of the staff on the ground to providing quality healthcare to all patients.