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Tag: hospitals

  • Lagos to conduct integrity test on hospitals, others

    To ascertain their condition, the Lagos State Materials Testing Laboratory (LSMTL), is to conduct scientific test on general hospitals, bridges, shopping malls and other traffic infrastructure.

    The exercise is in continuation of the Non-Destructive Test (NDT) the agency did on some structures at the state secretariat in Alausa and the old secretariat in Ikeja GRA.

    During a visit to some general hospitals and the inspection of the agency’s five divisional offices, LSMTL Acting General Manager Olalekan Ajani said the government would explore all avenues to  guarantee safety of lives and property.

    On the outcome of the NDT,  Ajani said: “After the test conducted at Alausa in September 2018, we made our recommendations to the maintenance agencies of the government for action.”

    The government, he said, used its own buildings to show the public that it meant well as the exercise is not to victimise or inflict hardship on people.

    “What we are saying is that buildings, just like the human body, must be periodically tested to know the type of maintenance needed as when due. While we hail some individuals that are now approaching the agency to have their buildings tested, we want to appeal to Lagosians to willingly submit their buildings for testing without being prompted,” Ajani said.

    The agency, he said, had certified some independent material testing laboratories in the state to complement its efforts  in stopping building collapse.

     

  • Govt moves to tackle challenges in hospitals

    The Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) has called on FCT residents to always visit its hospitals to seek medical services, instead of going to herbalists and prayer warriors for medical attention.

    Secretary, Health and Human Service Secretariat, Adamu Abubakar Bappah made this call while at Kwali General Hospital inspecting the condition of FCT health facilities, last week.

    The Secretary explained that the tour of the facilities was to enable the FCTA fix all challenges facing them.

    The Secretary and his team made up of the MD Health Management Board, Dr. Aminu Mai and other directors of the secretariat, visited general hospitals in Rubochi, Abaji, Kwali, Gwagwalada and Zuba, where they inspected facilities and interacted with the Medical Directors of the hospitals and other health workers.

    The team also paid homage to traditional rulers and appealed to them to sensitize those under their domain, particularly Rubochi residents, to always visit the hospitals, instead of seeking solution to their health challenges with herbalists and prayer warriors.

    Abuja Review gathered that, all the hospitals visited generally complained about similar problems, ranging from lack of constant power and water supply, inadequate staffing, and insufficient accommodation to irregular posting of staff, and overpopulation, among others.

    However, while other hospitals needed expansion to accommodate more patients, the Medical Director of Rubochi General Hospital, Dr. Ita Edim decried lack of patronage from members of the community, adding that the hospital also has a challenge constant power supply.

    The secretary therefore visited and appealed to traditional rulers, especially the Sa Rubochi, Ibrahim Mohammed Pada and the Agape of Ugbada, Hussaini Agabi Mam, to convince their subjects to visit the hospital for treatment of illnesses and delivery of babies, instead of seeking health care from prayer houses and herbalists.

    The duo who responded separately, pledged to sensitise their people to patronise Rubochi Hospital, even as they seized the opportunity to appeal to the secretary to consider their people for employment in sensitive positions, not only in the hospital, but also in other organs of the FCT Administration, adding that such a gesture would give the people a better sense of belonging.

    Apart from the General Hospitals of Abaji, Kwali, Kuje and Zuba, which were visited and inspected, all the major traditional rulers of these areas were also visited, their cooperation and understanding sought in ensuring the successes of the health facilities.

    The secretary, while commissioned an administrative block at the Kwali General Hospital praised its MD, Dr.Halima Bello for inovation and advised other medical directors to toe her path of excellence.

    Accordingly, the Ona of Abaji, Adamu Baba Yunusa; Etsu of Kwali, Shaban Audu Nizazo III; Gomo of Kuje, Haruna Jubrin Tanko; Agora of Zuba, Aliyu Mohammed Ringim and the Aguma of Gwagwalada, Mohammed Magaji who was represented by the Hakimi (district head) of Gwagwalada, Muhammmadu Lakayi.

    While noting that Abaji was a major gate into the FCT and shares boundary with other States, the Ona requested for the upgrading of the Abaji General Hospital to a medical centre to enable it carter for the huge demand for health services occassioned by population increase and accidents on the expressway.

    His Zuba counterpart, Mohammed Ringim, thanked the FCTA for heeding their requests for upgrading the hitherto Zuba cottage hospital to its present general gospital status, and appealed for further expansion of the institution, owing to influx of people to the area due to its position as a boundary town.

    Bappah also expressed satisfaction with the cleanliness and maintenance of facilities at the Zuba hospital, and promised to assist the hospital to get certification from NAFDAC for a drug (Methylated spirit) produced by this young hospital.

    Just like the other chiefs, they also requested for special consideration of their subjects for employment as workers in the hospitals and other bodies of the administration.

    At the FCT Schools of Nursing and Midwifery, Gwagwalada, the team was greeted with a myriad of challenges similar to those of the hospitals, including lack of enabling law for the establishment of the twin schools, inadequate hostel accommodation, absolate equipment, lack of training and 50: 50 sharing formula for the two schools, instead of the present ratio of 3:1, which represents 75: 25 percent.

    The two schools also requested that sale of forms for entrance examinations should be domiciled with the institution, not the FCTA; promotion of staff should be handled directly by the Health Secretariat, instead of the Health Management Board, among others.

    The principals, Dambatta Binta Bello (Midwifery) and James Lakereks (Nursing) who separately berated non-conduct of matriculation and convovation for many years, among other problems, suggested that if it was not possible for the schools to get enabling law, they should be affiliated to the FCT University of Science and Technology, Abaji.

    Bappah, while responding, promised to ensure that the last sessions of the schools celebrated these ceremonies, even as he pledged the determination of the FCTA to resolve all the problems bedeviling the schools.

    He also promised to ensure right placement and utilisation of the schools’ only PhD holder, Dr. Shammah Monday.

    The tour of FCT hospital facilities and related institutions would continue this week in the Abuja Municipal and Bwari Area Councils.

  • Ambode’s wife donates incubator ambulances to hospitals

    Wife of Lagos State governor, Mrs Bolanle Ambode, has said the state government is working towards achieving zero infant mortality rate.

    Mrs Ambode stated this when she donated two transport incubator ambulances to Gbagada General Hospital and Lagos Island Maternity on behalf of the Committee of Wives of Lagos State Officials (COWLSO).

    The donation was part of the committee’s health intervention project for this year.

    A transport incubator ambulance is specially designed to convey “premature” babies to standard medical facilities. It is equipped with an Intensive Care Unit (ICU).

    The governor’s wife said members of the committee were touched by the high mortality rate of pre-term babies, which occurred before they could access intensive care.

    The transport incubators, according to her, would provide a womb-like environment for the baby with the right temperature and life-saving gadgets to help the new-born hang unto life till it gets to the ICU.

     

  • Sign language posters for hospitals, police stations, others

    Lagos State Government yesterday unveiled sign language posters to aid communication between the deaf and dumb and the public.

    Speaking at the ceremony held at Alausa, Ikeja, Commissioner for Youth and Social Development Mr Agboola Dabiri said the first phase of the initiative would address communication issues between the affected persons and service providers in hospitals, police stations, front desk offices and banks.

    The posters, he said, were developed in response to the needs of the affected persons, who often ran into trouble with those that should assist them.

    Noting that the idea was the first of its kind in the country, the commissioner said the updated versions of the posters would be produced in future to include some other areas not captured in the first phase.

    He praised all those involved in the process from the beginning to the end, saying that the process of producing the maiden edition of the publication was daunting.

    “Let me emphasise that these posters would be distributed free of charge to all the relevant stakeholders at no cost and those who are interested in getting more copies of this booklet are free to approach the Lagos State Office for Disability Affairs, (LASODA),” Dabiri said.

    The intention of the government, he said, was to produce the electronic copy of the sign language publication so it could be accessed anywhere across the world.

    Dabiri urged all service providers to acquaint themselves with the various basic sign languages as indicated in the booklet so as to be able to communicate with the affected persons.

    LASODA General Manager Dr. Babatunde Awelenje said the booklet would play a big role in integrating the affected persons into the society.

    According to him, if the communication barrier with the affected persons is addressed, they can live a normal life like those without any disability.

  • Police warn hospitals against rejection of gunshot victims

    The Lagos State Police Command, on Wednesday, warned hospital authorities against the rejection of gunshot victims or the attitude of asking for police report before treatment.

    A press statement signed by the command’s spokesman, SP Chike Oti, said the command had to repeat the warning, following a report that one hospital in Ikeja rejected a gunshot victim.

    “A senior engineer, Mr Adebayo Akinwunmi, with one information and communications technology company, was shot and wounded by armed robbers in his house at Ofada-Mokoloki, Ogun.

    “He was brought to Reddington Hospital, Ikeja for treatment only to be refused admission on the grounds that there was no police report.

    “The command considers the action of the hospital as cruel; perhaps, an indication that the hospital management may be ignorant of the “Compulsory Treatment and Care of Victims of Gunshot Act, 2017.

    “In the light of this development, the Command wishes to inform all medical practitioners in Lagos state, that the Act demands that every hospital in Nigeria, whether public or private;

    “Shall accept or receive for immediate and adequate treatment with or without police clearance any person with a gunshot wounds.

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    According to him, the Act, however, requires the hospital treating such a patient to report the fact to the nearest police station within two hours of the commencement of treatment.

    “The Commissioner of Police, Lagos State, Mr Imohimi Edgal, has directed all Area Commanders and Divisional Police Officers in the state to henceforth prosecute any medical practitioners, who reject gunshot victims for reasons of no police report.

    “Medical doctors should note that the Act recommends a five-year-jail term for any person, hospital or authority, who stands by or omits to do his bit, which results in the unnecessary death of any person with bullet wounds,” the statement read.

  • Clinical radiographers demand separate department in hospitals

    The struggle for recognition by the various professional groups in the health sector is not likely to end soon.

    Clinical radiographers, critical players in health service, has also joined the fray as they are demanding for a separate department in health facilities.

    They claimed that they  did not find the current arrangment of keeping them in the same department with medical doctors  comfortable.

    The practice, they said, has relegated them to the background with no voice in the scheme of things.

    The group, therefore, demanded a separate department for practitioners in public and private health facility, which should be headed by one of their own.

    According to Mr Okoye Neirus, a deputy director with the National Hospital, Abuja, radiographers should not be lumped together with medical doctors in the same department.

    He said there was a need to create an autonomous department for them as it is a different and unique discipline, urging all radiographers to challenge the ugly trend whether as a clinical or academic radiographer.

    Neirus, who spoke in Abuja during the 2017 World Radiography Day organised by the Medical Imagine Society of Nigeria (MISON), in conjunction with General Electronics (GE), with the theme: “Awakening the spirit of radiographers in Nigeria”, said: “While we celebrate our past glory an ugly present and future are starring us in the face in clinical sector. We need to achieve the same feat we achieved in the academic sector in our clinical sector. department of radiography needs to be autonomous just as department of radiography in the universities are autonomous. We should have our own separate department in the clinical sector, which must be headed by a radiographer.”

    He continued:“To me, it does not matter which  name we will call it. What will matter is that it is for radiographers and headed by radiographers. If we look at the present management structure in the clinical sector, department is the smallest official unit of communication, but very sadly as presently constituted, radiographers are joined with doctors in one department, which is headed by only doctors. Radiographers have no opportunity toward the department. It is exclusively made for doctors. We must take our future in on hands and rise up to this challenge. This ugly trend must be challenged by all radiographers, irrespective of whether you are in the academic or clinical sector.”

    MISON Federal Capital Teritory (FCT), Abuja Chairman Emma Ngwu said the 2017 celebration was to create awareness on radiography as the fastest-growing field/discipline in medicine, engender harmony among radiographers/medical imaging practitioners, and promote international best practices.

    He added: “As  shining beacon  of this profession, radiography, a fast evolving and dynamic discipline that have outlived its initial name-radiography, birthed in 1895, whatever name we chose to call ourselves in Nigeria. Whatever name is globally acceptable, one thing is certain, this profession is and remains the cynosure of all in the field of patient care.”

    He, therefore, urged members to  guard it jealousy and protect it from the prying eyes of quacks and “ensure that any patient encountered, will go home feeling fulfilled, encouraged, safe and finds both physical (medical) and physiological healing. “After all, we care about their safety,”he said.

     

  • Lagos: Projects, projects everywhere…and more to come

    Lagos: Projects, projects everywhere…and more to come

    Last week, Governor Akinwunmi Ambode inaugurated various projects across the state. They ranged from roads, hospitals, law court and more. WALE AJETUNMOBI reports that the projects were designed to make life comfortable for residents and enhance the ease of doing business.

    Lagos, the fifth largest economy in Africa, the commercial nerve centre of Nigeria and the economic capital of West Africa, experienced giant leap in provision of critical infrastructure in strategic sectors in two days when Governor Akinwunmi Ambode, on November 8 and 9, unveiled some newly completed projects and policies which were designed to make life comfortable for residents and enhance the ease of doing business.

    The two-days, which were a mixture of inspection of ongoing and unveiling of completed projects, also featured the inauguration of a 45-member Community Relations Committee in Badagry that will work to forestall any incidence of environmental degradation, communal disputes and civil disturbances often associated with oil-producing areas.

    On Wednesday, Governor Ambode inaugurated a new access  road at he premises of the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital (LASUTH), Ikeja that will get rid of difficulties associated with accessing medical care faster during emergencies. The road connects the premises of LASUTH from Mobolaji Bank Anthony Way and Medical Road in Ikeja.

    Governor Ambode also inspected the progress of work on the LASUTH Maternity Hospital popularly known as Ayinke House which began in January last year.

    The 400-metres long road  boasts street light, drainage, median and beautification features.

    Speaking while inaugurating the road, Governor Ambode expressed delight at the completion of the project, saying it was designed to facilitate faster access to medical care, thereby saving lives. He said it was a thing of joy that after about three to four decades, another access road had been created to LASUTH.

    He said: “We are very delighted to be here. We believe strongly that the cornerstone for the growth of the economy of Lagos actually lies in the hands of all because if we don’t have a healthy state, we cannot have a productive economy. That was why we decided to pay greater attention to the health sector.

    “We realised that just one entrance into this whole complex is too dangerous.  We are happy to inaugurate this project.

    “We are also happy that in another five to six months, we will be back here to make the Ayinke House functional. We have received assurances that before May 2018, those ones will be completed also,” he said.

    Governor Ambode then moved to Igando where he inspected the ongoing expansion and upgrade of Alimosho General Hospital. There, the Governor ordered additional projects such as lounge for families of patients and canteen, as well as Ear, Nose and Throat (ENT) Department to be included in the project.

    The Governor also inspected the ongoing construction of theatre art as well as the general hospital in Badagry  town.

    While inaugurating members of the oil exploration community relations committee the following day, Governor Ambode said as much as oil is a major source of revenue in the country, its exploration has created serious environmental challenges affecting health, social and economic activities, sustainable development and ecological balance due to land degradation, air pollution, water pollution, deforestation and ecosystem degradation in the oil-producing communities.

    “These activities, among others, have led to agitations from communities and youth groups leading to disruption of exploration activities, pipeline vandalisation and, in extreme cases, kidnapping and violence,” he said.

    Governor Ambode also said Lagos, being the home of Nigeria’s most critical commercial activities and now an oil-producing state with the discovery of oil in the Badagry area; in the Aje Oil Field, OML 113 being operated by Yinka Folawiyo Petroleum Company, cannot afford to have any community unrests or disruption of peace, hence the need for the committee.

    “It is imperative that our oil companies and their host communities enjoy a very warm and mutually beneficial relationship.

    “Sequel to the aforesaid and the need to create an exploration environment conducive to the oil companies as well as having host communities devoid of rancour to prevent the re-occurrence of the Niger Delta issues in Lagos State, we have constituted a Committee for the Lagos State Oil-Producing Areas Relations, cutting across the oil-producing communities in Badagry,” he  said.

    Besides, Governor Ambode said the committee would also be expected to ensure peace and harmony between host communities and oil companies in Badagry.

    “Our government is committed to creating an environment conducive to all to thrive, especially in our budding oil industry. We will always work to protect our people and ensure their welfare is improved while at the same time providing an investor-friendly environment,” he said.

    While thanking members of the committee for accepting to serve and contribute to the development of Lagos State, the Governor urged them to deploy their wealth of knowledge and experience to ensure co-operation and collaboration between the communities and the oil companies operating in Badagry.

    “This is a tough assignment because it is not easy to mediate and arbitrate. I look forward to receiving the reports of your activities and the progress being made by our communities and oil companies,” he said.

    Speaking while inaugurating Olusola Thomas Court House in Badagry, a new six-room court complex named after a former Chief Judge of the State, Governor Ambode said the development was another strong representation of his commitment to the rule of law and social justice, as well as a testimony of the determination to ensure that distance or geographical location is not a barrier to citizens’ access to justice.

    “The ongoing transformation of Badagry through infrastructural renewal and development are meant to open up this part for investors who will take advantage of the multi-million oil exploration activity and Deep Sea Port Project, among others,” he said.

    Giving details on the features of the new complex, the Governor said: “The court has been equipped with modern facilities for the comfort of not only judges and magistrates but also everyone, including lawyers and members of the public.

    “The court has been designed to ensure the welfare and security of personnel and members of the public who have course to be in the chambers of justice with the installation of close circuit television (CCTV) surveillance cameras and monitors within the various courtrooms and the entire vicinity of this complex.

    “There is a well-equipped library, exhibit and conference room facilities for the continued training and retraining of justice personnel assigned to this complex.”

    Continuing, he said: “We have already concluded the contract that takes the road from Eric Moore to Okokomaiko which is ongoing. So, we are just looking to close the next transaction that takes that 10-lane road from Okokomaiko to Seme Border.”

    To another equally set of projects, Governor Ambode proceeded to Ketu where he inaugurated multiple Layby and Slip Road in Agboyi Ketu Local Council Development Area as part of measures to find a lasting solution to the perennial traffic gridlock along Ikorodu Road.

    The Governor also launched the Intelligence Transport System (ITS), the e-ticketing for commuters using the Bus Rapid Transit (BRT), the Ojota BRT Depot and the new complex for the Lagos Metropolitan Area Transport Authority known as LAMATA Place.

    Speaking while inaugurating the slip road and multiple lay-by in Ketu, Governor Ambode said the project was a significant milestone that will drastically reduce the traffic along the corridor, adding that its completion would, no doubt, impact directly on travel time as the targeted reduction of traffic along the length of the Third Mainland Bridge to the entire stretch of the axis, moving towards Old Toll Gate and the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway would be accomplished.

    “This project is one of the major interventions in recent time by this administration. There is the multiple lay-by at Oworonshoki, the car wash Layby, slip road at Olopomeji, the several see through fence and the recently launched lay-by at Alapere bus stop.

    “Without doubt, this administration has dedicated considerable resources to the fulfilment of its initiatives of providing basic elements of roads and transport infrastructure. This, obviously, is in tandem with the fact that the importance of transportation to our economy cannot be over- emphasised,” he said.

    The Governor said as part of the Bus Reform Initiative (BRI), additional new 800 buses would be provided in the next two months, while a total of 5,000 would be provided within 24 months.

    He, however, urged residents to co-operate with government, especially by not plying commercial motorcycles, popularly known as okada in restricted routes, saying such was why the government was providing enough buses.

    Speaking at Ojota while launching the e-ticketing, ITS, BRT Depot and LAMATA Place, Governor Ambode said the move was another initiative geared to allow proper transport planning, saying that the technology had been designed to indicate where each bus is; how the driver is behaving; the arrival time of a bus and space inside, among others.

    Giving details, the Governor said: “This is a four-in-one package. When you look at the city generally, I get so unhappy when I see people standing at the bus stops not knowing when the next bus will arrive. The ITS is designed to solve such problem and our people can become more productive and then more comfortable in the way they commute across the city.

    “There are more Lagosians using buses; there are more Lagosians walking on the road than those of us that have cars. So, we need to take proper care of them and that is the step we are taking here and the reforms we are doing in the transport sector ultimately to create an integrated transport management system in the city combining water, road, rail, air and those walking.”

    However, the projects did not go down without commendation from critical stakeholders who viewed them as demonstrable evidence of determination to make life easier and comfortable to the people by the Ambode administration.

    Responding on behalf of the community, Oba of Ketu, HRM Isiaka Balogun commended Governor Ambode for the massive infrastructural projects carried out in the axis so far, saying they were unprecedented.

    Also, in her remarks at the launch of new courtrooms in Badagry, Lagos State Chief Judge, Justice Opeyemi Oke commended Governor Ambode for his commitment to deliver prompt and efficient justice system.

    While lauding the new court house, the CJ said it was also gratifying that the governor was in the process of building official quarters for judges and magistrates in Ikorodu, Epe and Badagry judicial divisions, as well as plans to establish commercial court house.

    The Chief Medical Director of LASUTH, Prof. Adewale Oke, at inauguration of the new access, commended Governor Ambode for his commitment to the health sector, saying several projects had been executed in the institution.

    “This is a dream come true. For many years, we have had problem with movement of patients into the hospital. Sometimes, they are in the ambulance for 15 or 20 minutes before they can get in but this road has solved that problem.

    “It is going to save our patients; it’s going to make access to the hospital very easy even for the workers,” Oke said.

    Also speaking, Prof. Babatunde Sholagbero, Provost of Lagos State University College of Medicine (LASUCOM), said the completion of the road was evidence of promise made and promise kept.

    He thanked Governor Ambode for facilitating the accreditation of Dentistry for the institution, thereby making Lagos State University (LASU) the only state university in Nigeria that offer Bachelor of Dentistry degree.

    “By the World Health Organisation (WHO) statistics, the accepted dentist to patient population in United States is 1 to 2,000, but for Africa it is 1 to 150,000. So, for every dentist we produce, we will now have 150,000 Lagosians being catered for,” Solagbero said.

    On his part, President of Lagos State University Medical Students’ Association, Bada Akintayo Akinbobola commended Governor Ambode for his determination to scale up the health sector, saying LASUCOM is now regarded as the Harvard of Africa judging by the massive investment in the institution by the state government.

    But the projects inaugurated by Governor Ambode were just a few out of the lot. Several others ranging from Primary Health care Centres (PHCs), blocks of classrooms and schools infrastructure as well as fibre boats to aid water transportation sector were also unveiled by representatives of the Governor across the state.

     

  • Senate seeks release of N308.464m to hospitals

    Senate seeks release of N308.464m to hospitals

    The Senate yesterday asked the ministries of Finance and Budget and National Planning to prioritise Ministry of Health in the release of annual budgetary allocations.

    This followed poor maintenance of Federal Government-owned hospitals.

    The upper chamber urged the Federal Government to release the N308, 464,276.782 budgetary allocation to the health sector in the 2017 fiscal year.

    The resolution followed adoption of a motion titled: “Inadequate maintenance of Federal Government-owned hospitals”, sponsored by Senator Monsurat Sunmonu (Oyo Central).

    The Senate resolved to urge the Ministry of Health to ensure efficiency in health care services and maintain high standard of health care delivery services through periodic training, hospital inspection, among others.

    It mandated its Committee on Health to investigate or request the audit of Federal Government- owned hospitals and charged Federal Government hospitals to provide quality management through continuous evaluation.

    Senator Sunmonu in her lead debate noted that hospitals were health care institutions designed to provide patients with adequate, timely and specialised medical attention.

    She said: “The provision of timely and adequate medical attention to patients can save the lives of those in need of medical care. It is the first step in ensuring that our health care sector attains the desired standard in boosting the faith of Nigerians in our hospitals.”

    The lawmaker, who decried the pathetic situation in the health sector, said: “Despite Nigeria’s strategic position in Africa, the country is under-served in the health care sphere. The health care sector has suffered downfalls, particularly due to inadequate health facilities (health centres, personnel and medical equipment), as well as strike.

    “At these times, government-owned hospitals are not able to provide basic medicine or drugs (such as paracetamol tablets), while malfunctioning medical equipment, such as x-ray machine, oxygen, syringes and most importantly, lack of adequate electricity in the clinics have become the order of the day.”

    She said renovations or even construction were baseless if hospitals were not equipped with basic facilities required to save lives, adding that the health care system was in need of attention.

     

     

     

  • Doctors’ strike: CMDs to keep hospitals alive

    Doctors’ strike: CMDs to keep hospitals alive

    The Federal Government moved fast on Wednesday to mitigate the resident doctors’ strike by ordering medical directors to ensure interrupted services.

    A meeting will hold today between the leadership of the National Association of Resident Doctors (NARD) and government representatives to resolve the industrial action declared on Monday.

    Minister of Health Prof. Isaac Adewole also directed  heads of government hospitals to ensure that other medical doctors in the other strata, including those on  National Youth Service, fill the vacuum.

    Adewole  assured that government-owned hospitals would accept patients.

    Arrangements were also being made to use the Armed forces, the Police and Federal Road Safety Corps health facilities.

    The management of National Hospital in Abuja directed medical consultants and other personnel to attend to patients.

    The spokesperson of the hospital, Dr. Dayo Hastrup, said there was no interruption of services.

    On how the hospital kept going despite the strike,  Hastrup said the Chief Medical Director, Dr. Jaf Jimoh,  had gone ahead to assure patients and their families of uninterrupted services.

    He said: “The management has been very proactive to ensure that services still continue at the hospital. The Chief Medical Director has directed the consultants,  House officers and doctors who are on preliminary to make sure they are there to attend to patients.

    “So, it is not a close down business, patients are still been attended to in the wards as usual and we are also attending to emergencies . The laboratories are functioning very well, the nurses are on ground and other health workers. So everything is going on well.”

    The Federal Government will meet with the leadership of the striking doctors to end the  strike.

    A statement by the Deputy Director, Press in the Ministry of Labour and Employment, Samuel Olowookere, said the leadership of the doctors, the leadership of the Nigeria Medical Association and officials of the Federal Ministry of Health were expected to be part of the meeting at the conference hall of the Federal Ministry of Labour and Employment.

    The statement said: “Towards apprehending the strike embarked upon by the National Association of Resident Doctors (NARD), after reaching an agreement with the Federal Government on issues in dispute, the Honourable Minister of Labour and Employment, Sen. Chris Ngige, is scheduled to hold a crucial conciliatory meeting with the President and Executive of NARD, President and Executive of the Nigeria Medical Association (NMA), officials of the Federal Ministry of Health, led by the Minister, Prof. Isaac Adewole and other stakeholders.”

     

  • ‘Seek medical attention from hospitals not churches’

    The wife of Cross River State Governor Ben Ayade has urged expectant mothers to stop patronising churches for medical advice and delivery.

    Mrs Linda Ayade gave the advice yesterday at the launch of the first round of Maternal Newborn and Child Health (MNCH) week in Odukpani Local Government.

    Dr. Ayade lamented that increasing mortality rate of expectant mothers was due to rising patronage of faith-based organisations, instead of hospitals.

    She appealed to expectant mothers to take advantage of health facilities in their locality, as the state intensifies efforts to end maternal and infant mortality.

    “As we launch the first round of MNCH today, I appeal to expectant mothers not to be too busy when it comes to regular attendance at antenatal clinics.

    “Secondly, I advise them to seek medical attention in our health facilities, rather than in churches and prayer houses,” Ayade said.

    She called for support for the Health Insurance Scheme, tagged: Ayadecare,  aimed at delivering affordable health care services.

    Director-General, Primary Health Care Development Agency Dr. Betta Edu said the objective of the week was to improve health care delivery for expectant mothers and children.

    “We are grateful to Governor Ayade for making available free commodities for expectant mothers and children, as they will receive free immunisation, malaria test and drugs, free vitamin A supplement, de-worming tablets and others.

    “We have resolved to reduce maternal and newborn mortality.

    “This is why we are launching this health week to render free medical service to expectant mothers and children,” she said.

    Edu hailed the United Nations Population Fund (UNFP) and other development partners for supporting the health sector to render health care services to residents.