• To Upgrade Of All General Hospitals, PHCs
The Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) has concluded plans to recruit all categories of health workers including doctors, nurses, and laboratory scientists to address manpower shortage and improve service delivery in health facilities in the nation’s capital city.

Also, the administration will start to rehabilitate and upgrade the all the 14 general hospitals and the Primary Healthcare Centres (PHCs) in the territory in this year to make them conducive for patients and health workers .

Mandate Secretary on Health Services and Environment, FCT, Dr Adedolapo Fasawe, disclosed this at the unveiling of the Nyesom Wike VIP Ward at the Maitama District Hospital, in Abuja.

She said that healthcare is a fundamental pillar of national development, adding the plans were in line with the administration’s goal of enhancing healthcare infrastructure, patients’ care and well-being.

The Mandate Secretary stated that the FCT administration remains resolute in ensuring that all citizens, irrespective of their status, have access to high-quality medical services.

She said, “There will be a general rehabilitation, upgrading and change of equipment in the 2025 budget for all hospitals and Primary Healthcare Centree the FCT. This has been mentioned and approved by His Excellency, Barr. Nyesom Wike. He has also approved that all the remaining call rooms be fixed as soon as possible.”

Fasawe stated that the newly upgraded ward is a testament to the administration’s commitment to providing world-class healthcare services that prioritise both excellence and patient comfort.

“However, we recognise that comfort and personalised care also play a crucial role in patient recovery. The establishment and upgrading of amenity wards serve as a strategic intervention to ensure that our distinguished citizens, who might have otherwise sought private healthcare services primarily for comfort, can receive the best care within our public health institutions.

“Today, we are gathered to celebrate a significant milestone—the transformation of the five-bed amenity ward at Maitama District Hospital into a state-of-the-art facility, now officially named the BNW ward. This development was made possible by the generosity of kind-hearted individuals who, in recognition of our shared vision for a world-class healthcare system, insisted that this ward bear our people and project oriented Minister’s name.”

She observed that the newly upgraded BNW ward has  five individual cubicles, each equipped with the finest amenities to ensure the utmost comfort and care for its patients.

“It is remarkable to note that despite the increased admission charges, this ward is fully booked until the first week of May 2025. This high demand underscores the importance of creating environments that enhance the patient experience while maintaining medical excellence,” she emphasised.

Fasawe noted that a self-sustaining plan has been implemented to maintain the ward’s high standards, ensuring long-term benefits for future generations, and 20 per cent discount has also been introduced for FCTA medical and health personnel to recognise their contributions.

She said following the launch of the BNW ward, the Health Services and Environment Secretariat plans to replicate the model in other FCTA hospitals, aiming to improve healthcare delivery across the FCT, and provide patients with premium services without needing private facilities.

“As we inaugurate this ward today, I reaffirm FCTA’s commitment to supporting initiatives that enhance healthcare infrastructure and patient care in our hospitals. I commend all stakeholders, from the hospital management to the generous benefactor and our hardworking medical personnel, for their collective efforts in making this vision a reality.

Also speaking, the World Health Organisation (WHO) Country Representative, Dr Walter Mulombo stated that the initiative is an important step towards reversing the trend of medical tourism adding that the facility should be made available for all Nigerians irrespective of their status.

According to him, the ward will offer a high-quality environment for all Nigerians to access healthcare, not just VIPs.

“This is why we are supporting the National Health Insurance, so that it can take charge of those expenses.

The Medical Director of the hospital, Dr Rita Idemudia mentioned that the FCT Minister has made significant investments in the health sector to improve healthcare accessibility and affordability.

“Before the current FCT Administration, the city lacked health facilities that offered medical services that meet international standards. This milestone involved multiple phases, before reaching its current commissioning stage,” she added.