….ask FG to declare a state of emergency in FCT health sector

By Gift ChapiOdekina, Abuja

The House of Representatives has expressed displeasure over the impending health crisis in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), calling for the urgent upgrade of healthcare infrastructure and the recruitment of medical personnel to avert a breakdown of the system.

The motion, sponsored by Rep. Nnamdi Ezechi, during plenary in Abuja highlighted the growing strain on government hospitals and medical facilities across the FCT, which are reportedly overstretched and unable to meet the rising demand for healthcare services.

The Lawmaker expressed concern over a critical shortage of bed spaces and medical staff, which they say is contributing to preventable deaths.

“The population of the FCT has surged significantly over the past two decades, while many of the existing government hospitals were constructed several years ago with little or no expansion to match the growing demand,” Ezechi noted.

He further lamented the dire situation where critically ill patients are often left unattended or forced to wait for hours due to lack of available beds and limited facility capacity. “This has resulted in the daily loss of lives that could have been saved,” he said.

He also decried the insufficient number of doctors, nurses, and other healthcare workers, stressing that this shortage has severely impacted the quality of care and increased the workload of the few available staff.

“If immediate interventions are not made, the healthcare crisis may escalate to unmanageable levels, undermining the right to health and threatening the well-being of residents in the nation’s capital,” Hon. Ezechi warned.

In it resolutions, the House urged the Federal Ministry of Health and the FCT Administration to assess the current state of healthcare facilities and identify areas in need of urgent upgrade and resource allocation.

The House also resolved to constitute an ad-hoc committee to investigate the healthcare situation in the FCT and submit a report within four weeks.

Furthermore, it called on the Federal Government to declare a state of emergency in the FCT health sector and release emergency funds for facility upgrades, personnel recruitment, and the acquisition of vital medical equipment.

Additionally, lawmakers encouraged the FCT Administration to collaborate with private sector stakeholders and international health organizations to enhance capacity in the short term, while pushing for the development of a long-term healthcare infrastructure plan tailored to the growing population of the FCT.