The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Federal Medical Centre (FMC)

  • FG investigates FMC Jabi’s emergency unit

    FG investigates FMC Jabi’s emergency unit

    The Federal Government has launched investigation into a viral video showing a patient at the emergency unit of the Federal Medical Centre (FMC), Jabi, Abuja, where medical personnel appeared indifferent and cited inadequate manpower and medical supplies for delayed attention.

    It also promised to make the outcome of the investigation public.

    In the video circulating on social media, a man who brought in an accident victim is heard expressing frustration over the poor response of the medical staff. 

    He was also heard vowing to publicise the incident to attract the attention of the Minister of Health.

    Reacting to the incident, the Minister of State for Health and Social Welfare, Dr. Iziaq Salako, ordered a thorough investigation and assured that the findings will be made public.

    Read Also: Nigeria’s deliverance will not come from Aso Rock, Archbishop Bassey declares

    In a statement on Sunday, the Public Relations Officer (PRO) of the hospital, Obadiah Gana, confirmed that the management was aware of the viral video, noting that it “negatively depicts our hospital.”

    He said: “In response, we have initiated a thorough investigation to uncover the facts surrounding this incident”

    The PRO, however, emphasised that the Hospital’s preliminary findings indicated that the emergency department had an adequate supply of medical consumables, including latex gloves, contrary to the claims made in the video, while resuscitation equipment and medications were sufficient.

    The hospital also affirmed that as of the time of the incident, there was no shortage of patient transfer equipment, including trolleys and wheelchairs.

    It said interaction with staff on duty & other stakeholders was  ongoing

  • After 18-year wait, woman gives birth to quintuplets

    A 42-year-old woman has been delivered of five babies (quintuplets) at Federal Medical Centre (FMC) Lokoja, Kogi, after 18 years of barrenness.

    A correspondent of the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) who visited the woman and her babies at the hospital on Friday reports that the mother, Mrs. Uchenna Okeigbo and her kids are in good condition.

    Okeigbo, an indigene of Olokoro Amangbo Community, Umuahia South Local Government Area of Abia, gave birth to three boys and two girls on April 17 through a Caesarean Section.

    Speaking with NAN, the woman expressed gratitude to God for the rare gift of five babies, saying that her wait for 18 years did not end in vain.

    “It is not easy to have five children at once,” Okeigbo said.

    She showered praises on her husband for standing by her.

    NAN further reports that the quintuplets, three boys and two girls, weighed 1.3kg 1.6kg, 1.7kg, 1.8kg and 1.9kg, respectively.

    However, the first baby, who weighed 1.3kg was still inside the incubator as at the time of NAN visit.

    The father of the quintuplets, Mr James Okeigbo, 47, an employee of a private establishment, who was overwhelmed with joy, described the coming of the babies as the happiest moment of his life and his wife as well.

    Read Also: Woman arrested for poisoning husband in Kano

    ”I thank my wife for retaining her respect for me for these 18 years of childlessness without quarreling with me.

    “I am also grateful to her family for standing by us,” Okeigbo said.

    He, however, solicited for assistance from government and members of the public to ensure adequate care for the five children.

    ‘As a good citizen of Nigeria, I am appealing to government to help us,” he said.

    Dr Grace Ogoke, Consultant, Obstetrician and Gynecologist at FMC, Lokoja, who handled the delivery of the quintuplets, said she was very happy and gave glory to God for the feat.

    She told NAN that she delivered the babies on Wednesday April 17, through a Caesarean Section (CS) at about, 11:45 pm, which coincidentally was her wedding anniversary day.

    ”They are three boys and two girls, and they weighed 1.3kg, 1.6kg, 1.7kg, 1.8kg and 1.9kg, respectively. The three boys came first and the one that first came out has the least weight of 1.3kg.

    ” The baby is put under observation inside an incubator because he weighs less than 1.5 kg but the baby is active,” Ogoke explained.

    According to her, the couple approached the FMC when they were seeking for the fruit of the womb with lots of investigations.

    ”After going through all their investigations, I saw that they would need to be assisted, that spontaneous pregnancy medically speaking might not be achievable, and I advised them to be assisted.

    ” The procedure for the assisted reproductive technology through In-Vitro Fertilisation (IVF) was successful, and the doctor referred them back to her for management of the pregnancy.

    ”I feel very happy and I give glory to God for seeing us through, because it was like all of us are pregnant during the pregnancy.

    ”This is my first time of taking delivery of quintuplets, the highest I have taken was three.

    ‘It is a relief and achievement for all of us and I thank God for that,” Ogoke said.

    The Chief Medical Director of the Federal Medical Centre, Lokoja, Dr Olatunde Alabi, said that experienced gynecologists and pediatricians were deployed to manage the woman from pregnancy to delivery.

    Alabi said it was the first time quintuplets will be delivered at the hospital, saying that the management of the pregnancy and successful delivery of the babies underscored the quality of staff at the hospital and their dedication to duty.

    NAN

     

     

  • Jilted 100-level female student commits suicide

    A 100-Level student of the Kogi State University (KSU) Ayingba, Rebecca Michael on Wednesday committed suicide over a breakup with her alleged boyfriend.

    She was reported to have taken her own life shortly after the boyfriend broke up with her.

    The deceased, it was gathered, recently gained admission into the Department of Philosophy, KSU.

    She reportedly committed suicide in their 200 housing unit residence, in Lokoja, the state capital.

    Unconfirmed sources have it that the deceased is in her 20s.

    It was reported that the deceased drank sniper, an insecticide, when the boyfriend, said to be a prominent disk jockey (DJ) in Lokoja, informed her that he was no longer interested in the relationship.

    Read Also: 22-year-old commits suicide in Anambra

    She was said to have been rushed to the Federal Medical Centre (FMC) Lokoja, where she later died.

    She was later buried on the same day at the Lokongoma Cemetery Lokoja.

    When contacted, the Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), William Aya, said he was yet to get report on the incident.

    He however promised to get back to our reporter, as soon as he gets information from the ‘C  Division,’ office of the Nigeria Police Force Lokoja.

  • Lassa fever claims 15 lives in Ondo

    102 infected

     

    No fewer than 102 people have been confirmed to be positive with Lassa fever with addition of 15 people who died in Ondo State between January and February this year.

    The state Chairman of Nigerian Medical Association (NMA), Wale Oke disclosed this while speaking with reporters in Akure, the state capital.

    According to him, “As at Thursday February 21, 102 people have been positive to Lassa fever this year. 82 people in January and 20 people so far in Febuary apart from 15 people dead in January as a result of the fever but no death has been recorded so far in February.

    “Most people that died either reported late or were already subjected to alternative treatment and doing self-medication before they eventually came to hospital.Their kidneys and livers had been affected as a result of the delay.

    Oke, who also works at Federal Medical Centre (FMC) Owo, urged residents of the state to report early to the medical centre if they experienced upsurge of temperature in their bodies.

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    He said “We have contact tracing mechanism whereby we can place on surveillance for 21 days those that may have contact with infected person. We continue to monitor their temperature if it is above 37.8 and ask them quick treatment.

    According to him, the centre has the highest success rate out of the three treatment centers in Nigeria for Lassa fever cases treatment, giving kudos to its management team.

    He added that the state government had put in place measures to curtail the fever and that the government had declared state of emergency on health sector.

    Oke explained that Ondo NMA alongside Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and others had engaged in series of sensitization exercises for the people of the state.

    He said the exercise was aimed at preventing further cases in the state, saying “NMA is concerned with the infection, prevention and control out of the so many pillars involved in the management of Lassa fever hence the basis for the sensitization.”

    He however disclosed that Owo, Ose, Akoko North, Akure South and Akure North are the local government areas of the state with the recorded cases.

  • Benue to spend N46m to rehabilitate 21 township roads – Official

    The Benue State Government says it will spend N46 million to rehabilitate 21 township roads to enhance movements of persons and goods in the state.

    Mr Hyosange Akaagerger, Permanent Secretary and Acting Commissioner, Ministry of Works, Transport and Energy, made the disclosure in an interview with News men on Tuesday in Makurdi.

    Akaagerger said that work had started on 21 critical roads, although 25 roads had been earmarked for rehabilitation.

    He listed the roads to include Ishaya Bakut, Old Otukpo, Kashim Ibrahim and Iyorchia Ayu Roads.

    Others are Achumugu Peter, Ogiri Oko, Gondo Aluor, JoeAkaahan Roads, David Mark Bypass and Jonah Jang Crescent.

    Also undergoing rehabilitation, he said, are Old Lafia Road, Atom Kpera, J.S. Tarka to Federal Medical Centre (FMC) Roads.

    The acting commissioner said FMC to Government House Roundabout, Bill Anakaa and Father Hunter’s Roads were under rehabilitation.

    “Benue Crescent to Bush Bar-Naka road, Ankpa quarters to Rainoil Junction, NKST lane-low level, Konshisha Street to Katsina-Ala Street were all undergoing renovations,’’ he said.

    Akaagerger added that all the roads at the three major rail crossings had been fixed.

    He disclosed that the state government would now focus on roads in Gboko, Katsina-Ala and Otukpo, headquarters of the three senatorial zones.

    Read Also: Benue monarch consoles Dickson over mum’s death

    ‘‘Our rural roads need to be fixed too. Apart from the township roads, other critical roads to be considered are the rural areas.

    ‘‘They are major towns and the volume of vehicular movement is high; major socio economic businesses are carried out on these routes, there are also major inter states links,” he noted.

    The commissioner also said that the construction of new major roads would commence soon.

    “We have new layouts springing up without access roads and it is a thing of concern to the government to construct new roads,” he said.

    Akaagerger said the new roads would include the Customary Court of Appeal road leading to George Akume Way as well as the VIO training ground linking Old Customs Quarters in North bank.

    Also, the Mobile Junction to Industrial Layout and Adaka village mop out to connect the main access road.

    ‘‘When constructed, most of the roads will act as bypasses, the town will be decongested of traffic and lesser time will be spent on the roads,’’ he said.

    The acting commissioner said the state government had called on the Federal Government to, as a matter of urgency, rehabilitate the River Katsina – Ala Bridge.

    He recalled that the 40 year-old bridge constructed in 1978 had suffered much neglect adding that it needed routine maintenance.

    He said an on the spot assessment by the Federal Controller of Works and a team of civil engineers showed that the surface of the bridge had deteriorated.

    “There are failed portion at the pedestrian ways and have cracks at the embodiments.

    ‘‘The state of the bridge is worrisome and presently the pillars are cracked and shaking,” he said.

    Akaagerger appealed to the Federal Government to quickly intervene to prevent its imminent collapse.

  • Man machetes wife, kills self in Delta

    Man machetes wife, kills self in Delta

    A middle aged man has committed suicide after allegedly inflicting severe machete cut on his wife, Evang. Promise in Asaba, the Delta state capital.

    Evang. Promise is now in critical condition at the intensive care unit of the Federal Medical Centre (FMC), Asaba.

    Public Relations Officer of Delta State Police Command, DSP Andrew Aniamaka confirmed the incident identified the husband of the victim as Victor Lazarus.

    Aniamaka said the couple was in a pool of blood following the arrival of the police at their home along Ibusa Road, Asaba.

    He said the couple was rushed Federal Medical Centre (FMC) Asaba only for the man to give up the ghost afterwards.

    An eyewitness who craved anonymity, said the incident occurred on Monday evening when Evang. Promise returned from a journey, and her husband descended on her with a sharp cutlass for reasons unknown

    He said, “She returned from a journey that evening, little did she know that the husband had prepared to kill her. As soon as she entered their room, the man started cutting from her head.

    Continuing, “Their son then alerted neighbours and then ran to the police who were on patrol to report the case, only for the police to arrive the scene to meet the man on the floor. He must have used the same machete to kill himself. His body has been deposited in the mortuary.”

    She added, “What a world! This woman has been going through hell in her marriage. There are so many women enduring their marriages they can’t confide in anyone until something terrible happens to them. Please Evang. Promise needs attention, financially and otherwise at the moment to enable her take treatment and recover fast.”

    Read Also: Court remands man for allegedly defiling 9-yr-old girl

  • Lassa fever: Delta donates protective kits to FMC Asaba

    Lassa fever: Delta donates protective kits to FMC Asaba

    The Delta Government has donated personal protective medical equipment to the Federal Medical Centre ( FMC ), Asaba, as part of efforts to curtail the scourge of Lassa fever in the state.

    The state Commissioner for Health, Dr Nicholas Azinge, presented the items to the Chief Medical Director of the centre, Dr Victor Osiatuma, on behalf of the state government on Thursday in Asaba.

    He stated that the kits would enable the medical personnel in the hospital to effectively fight the disease which recently re-emerged in the state.

    The commissioner revealed that so far two confirmed cases had been recorded in the state and the victims receiving medical attention at the facility.

    He said the first case of the disease brought to the FMC was a 43-year-old man resident in the state who was successfully treated and later referred to the Irrua Specialist Hospital in Edo.

    Azinge further stated that family members of the man and the ambulance driver who conveyed him to the hospital are being closely monitored while other contact tracing are on-going.

    He assured residents that relevant authorities are on top of the situation, assuring that there is no cause for alarm as the state had effectively handled the disease the last time it emerged.

    According to the commissioner, all primary health care centres in the state have been activated and sensitised on how to respond to any suspected case of the disease.

    He therefore advised the residents to report suspected cases of malaria and typhoid that are not responding to treatment to the nearest medical facility as early report of cases would help save lives.

    Azinge disclosed that he was in contact with his counterpart in Anambra regarding the death of the second victim brought into Asaba.

    He said the corpse would be handed over to his Anambra colleague to ensure proper burial of the corpse in order not to expose more persons to the disease.

    Receiving the items, Osiatuma expressed gratitude to Gov. Ifeanyi Okowa for the gesture and assured of the effective use of the items.

    The protective items included 250 pieces of disposable coat/suit, 500 pieces of Elbow Length Gloves, 50 packets of surgical hand gloves and 50 sets protective boots, among others.
    On the death of the second victim of the disease in the hospital, Osiatuma revealed that the woman was brought in from Anambra last Sunday, but unfortunately died on the next day.

    He said the hospital is strictly following the protocol of handling the corpse in order not to spread the disease as workers were following laid down procedure in handling such cases.

    Osiatuma assured residents of the state on the ability of the hospital to handle the disease, saying with the donated items and training given to their personnel the disease would be effectively curbed.

    NAN

  • Don’t let me die now, man with kidney problem begs Nigerians

    Don’t let me die now, man with kidney problem begs Nigerians

    … needs N15m to live

    Although he is 50 years old but whoever that sees him would think he is older than that.

    With his legs swollen and in pains, Mr Clement Eromosele, lay weak, tired and looking worried on his hospital bed at the Federal Medical Centre (FMC), Abeokuta Ogun State, where doctors are working to stabilise his health last Tuesday.

    Few days earlier, FMC had placed him on dialysis machine to clean his system. The father of five children said he had spent all his life saving and even sold properties in his determination to get solution for a condition doctors have diagnosed as kidney problem

    From his hospital bed, Eromosele told The Nation that over a year ago, he began to notice that the vigour with which he did his security job were deserting him.

    “For every little effort exerted, makes me tired and weaker,” he said.

    Initially, he thought it was a minor health issue and had treated it accordingly but his situation did not change.

    He became a regular visitor to different hospitals in bids to find solution to his health challenge until he finally got to the FMC where specialist advised that he should go for a kidney transplant in order to live.

    He said with his saving all gone into buying drugs, undergoing series of tests and relatives having done their best to assist, he would be unable to afford the treatment and drugs required which were estimated to cost about N15 million.

    Eromosele is appealing to kind – hearted Nigerians, philanthropic organizations and others to help him, and not allow the health challenge to cut short his lifespan now.

    “I want to live, work and support my family. Nigerians should help me to recover. I have spent all my savings and even borrowed from people to treat this problem. The way the doctors talking, I will need millions of naira for kidney transplant in Nigeria. Kind hearted Nigerians should come to my help and not let me die,” he pleaded.

    According to him, no amount of assistance rendered to him to regain his strength would be treated as small. He can be reached through 08033443319, 08126378123 and First Bank A/C: 3011779716.

  • Okorocha calls for upgrade of FMC, Owerri, to teaching hospital

    Okorocha calls for upgrade of FMC, Owerri, to teaching hospital

    Gov. Rochas Okorocha of Imo has appealed to the Federal Government to upgrade Federal Medical Centre (FMC), Owerri, to a teaching hospital.

    Okorocha made the appeal in Owerri on Tuesday when the Minister of State for Health, Dr Osagie Ehanire, visited the centre to inaugurate six newly built projects.

    Okorocha, represented by the Deputy Governor, Ezedinobi Madumere, said the conversion of the centre to a teaching hospital was long overdue.

    The governor said the crisis in the centre between the management and staff was over.

    Besides, the governor said the centre had the manpower and physical structure to become a teaching hospital.

    Okorocha said he was directly involved in the resolution of the crisis which almost marred the activities of the hospital.

    He urged all parties to drop past grievances and work together to move the centre forward.

    Ehanire said the upgrading of the centre was possible, but would be better guaranteed when the management and staff were united.

    “I have seen physical structures and all met the international standard but management and staff must be at peace before such agitation will be considered,” he said.

    According to him, the Federal Government has resolved the lingering crisis in the centre and urged the workers to ensure that sanity is maintained.

    “I can assure you that the crisis is over and everybody should be ready to do the job which they are paid for,” he said.

    Ehanire said the government had plans to build a health centre in every political ward in the country to ensure a government’s health centre was at the door step of everyone.

    He commended the Medical Director, Dr Angela Uwakwem,  for the numerous achievements she had recorded within a short period.

    Uwakwem said that the hospital had manpower in various medical fields.

    She said that management embarked on the projects to reduce medical tourism by people in the state.

    She said the hospital had procured 16 Slice GE CT Scan and Fluoroscopy machines as well as C Arm machine to advance radiological services.

    Uwakwem, however, pleaded with the minister  to ensure the release of  the salaries of the workers, which were withheld during the crisis.

    “I wish to bring to the notice of the minister that peace has been reinstated in the hospital.

    “I plead that government should release salaries of workers which were not paid to them during the implementation of No Work,  No pay policy,” she said.

    The management and staff of the hospital had been at loggerheads over allegations of mismanagement of funds in the last two years.

    The crisis led to the closure of the centre and the suspension of Uwakwem.

    Uwakwem was later recalled by the Federal Government after a probe panel exonerated her from all the allegations against her.

  • Seven die, 13 injure in Ondo auto crash

    Seven die, 13 injure in Ondo auto crash

    Seven people Tuesday lost their lives in an accident which occurred around Amurin village along Akure-Owo expressway road in Owo local government area of the Ondo State.

    The incident, which occurred around 2.a.m was said to have been caused by over speeding of the driver of a Peugeot J5 bus with registration number BKK 424 XA

    It was gathered that the J5 bus driver collided with a Truck belong to Nigerian with registration number NA 1087 BO5 and 13 other passengers were also said to have sustained severe injuries and currently receiving treatment at the Federal Medical Centre (FMC), Owo.

    As at the time of filing this report, the identities of the dead victims are still unknown.

    Officials of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) refused to talk on the incident.

    But, the State Police Public Relations Officers (PPRO), Mr. Femi Joseph confirmed the incident.

    According to him “The army truck, driven by one Sergeant Ashima Abdullahi broke down and parked beside the road when the bus rammed into it at that midnight.”

    The PPRO also stated that the remains of the dead victims had been deposited at the morgue of the Federal Medical Centre, Owo while the injured were also receiving treatment at the hospital.