The Federal Capital Territory Administration said it has supplied general hospitals in the FCT with basic medical consumables to reduce the impact of doctors strikes.
The Mandate Secretary, Health Services and Environment Secretariat of the FCTA, Dr Adedolapo Fasawe, said on Thursday in a statement signed by her media aide, Bola Ajao, in Abuja that all medical doctors under the Health Services and Environment Secretariat have been deployed to various hospitals to mitigate the impact of the seven-day strike by medical doctors on the public.
Fasawe said during an inspection visit to Asokoro District Hospital to assess the impact of the ongoing strike on patients that the government has empowered and directed the Abuja Central Medical Stores to supply all facilities with basic medical consumables such as plasters, cotton wool, spirit, gloves, dry swabs, and wet swabs, among others, to protect patients from exploitation by unscrupulous workers.
She disclosed that provisions have also been made to ensure the availability of cleaning materials through various outsourced cleaning organizations. As a result, no patients or their relatives should be forced to provide these materials.
To reinforce her message, Fasawe issued a stern warning to all FCTA hospitals to desist from exploiting innocent patients and their relatives under the pretext of a lack of consumables, or they will face the full extent of the law. She further emphasized that Abuja Central Medical Stores must ensure that hospital pharmacies are well-stocked to meet public demand at all times.
“As medical doctors sworn to the Hippocratic Oath, we are obligated to return to the field and take up the challenge of providing adequate care to our people, bridging the gap caused by our striking colleagues.
“This responsibility has been embraced by every one of us, myself included, as we engage with patients, consult, and offer support where and when necessary to keep the system running as one cohesive health family,” Fasawe stated.
The head of Clinical Services, Rosie Nwokorie, assured the Mandate Secretariat of the smooth operation of the hospitals and the commitment of the staff on the ground to providing quality healthcare to all patients.
