The Medical Director of the Federal Medical Centre (FMC) Bida, Niger State, Dr. Usman Abubakar, has called on members of the public to confirm the accuracy of information before circulating it, warning that the spread of unverified claims could generate unnecessary tension within the community.

Dr. Abubakar made the appeal during a stakeholders’ meeting on the hospital’s services in Bida. He emphasised that the centre maintains an open-door policy and encouraged residents to engage directly with hospital authorities for clarifications rather than resorting to hearsay.

“Our doors are open 24/7. We urge people to always say the correct thing about FMC Bida and avoid spreading unfounded stories,” he said.

The medical director also reiterated the hospital’s commitment to delivering accessible healthcare services to residents and other citizens.

In his contribution, the Maiyaki Nupe, Alhaji Yahaya Aliyu, who serves as Vice Chairman of the Guild of Friends of FMC Bida, commended the hospital’s management. He urged them to remain focused and resist distractions in carrying out their duties.

“Don’t be carried away by side talks; may misfortune never happen to you. But if it does, don’t be discouraged,” Aliyu stated.

He noted that the centre charges N700 per bed space, which he said was lower than the fees in other FMCs across the country where patients reportedly pay up to N5,000. According to him, residents should prioritise health expenditure over less essential spending.

“If, for instance, you increase the bed space fee to N1,000, there will be an uproar in Bida, whereas people easily spend N5,000 on recharge cards to listen to or watch things of little value,” he added.

The traditional leader urged stakeholders and residents to support the hospital’s management to ensure the sustainability of quality healthcare delivery in the area.