WIKE DIRECTS CLAMPDOWN ON UNREGISTERED HOSPITALS IN FCT
The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has announced a strict directive for the immediate closure of unregistered hospitals and the arrest and prosecution of any medical personnel found operating in such facilities. This directive comes in response to the recent death of a pregnant woman at Afolmi Hospital, a private health facility located in Durumi, Abuja, following complications after a caesarean section. The tragic incident has raised concerns over the prevalence of unregistered health facilities and the dangers they pose to vulnerable patients.
Wike, through his Senior Special Assistant on Public Communications and Social Media, Lere Olayinka, expressed his deep concern over the rising number of unqualified practitioners and unregistered hospitals operating in the FCT. Olayinka also highlighted the unfortunate reality that many pregnant women in the region are failing to take advantage of the Federal Capital Territory Health Insurance Scheme (FHIS), which provides free enrollment and access to essential healthcare services, including maternal care.
The FHIS is designed to give vulnerable individuals, especially pregnant women, access to free healthcare services through the Primary Health Care (PHC) Centres. These services are part of the Basic Minimum Package of Health Services (BMPHS) that cover a wide range of medical needs. Despite the free registration and the availability of safe, government-approved healthcare options, many women continue to seek care from unregistered facilities, contributing to the risks they face during pregnancy and childbirth.
As part of the FCTA’s commitment to improving maternal health and reducing maternal mortality, several public hospitals across the FCT, including Gwarinpa, Nyanya, Abaji, and Kuje General Hospitals, have been designated as Comprehensive Emergency Obstetric and Neonatal Care (CEONC) centers. These hospitals offer a full range of services, including cesarean sections, free of charge. The government urges all pregnant women in the FCT to take advantage of the available health insurance scheme, which is aimed at improving maternal health and preventing deaths from preventable complications.
The FCTA has expressed its zero-tolerance stance on maternal mortality, and the Wike-led administration is committed to ensuring that all women in the FCT receive proper, registered healthcare. This new directive against quackery and unregistered medical practices is part of a broader effort to ensure the safety and well-being of the public, particularly the most vulnerable. The government has called for greater vigilance and awareness to protect citizens from fraudulent health services.
