By Excellence Oseose
The Federal Capital Territory Administration has approved the immediate resumption of work on the long-abandoned Utako General Hospital in Abuja, with plans to complete, equip and staff the facility.
The decision was taken on Tuesday during the 19th meeting of the FCT Executive Council, presided over by the FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike, at Life Camp, Abuja.
Briefing journalists after the meeting, the Mandate Secretary of the FCT Health Services and Environment Secretariat, Dr. Adedolapo Fasawe, said the administration had also approved the rehabilitation, upgrading and equipping of all 14 existing general hospitals across the territory.
She said the intervention at Utako General Hospital would involve completing the construction of the facility, providing the necessary medical equipment and deploying healthcare personnel to make the hospital operational.
The development comes as part of a broader FCT healthcare overhaul aimed at improving access to quality medical services and reducing pressure on tertiary healthcare facilities in the nation’s capital.
Fasawe disclosed that the rehabilitation of the general hospitals would include the procurement of advanced diagnostic equipment, modern operating theatre facilities and X-ray machines.
She said the administration was also strengthening healthcare delivery across the six Area Councils through the revamping of primary and secondary health facilities.
According to her, the investments are intended to make healthcare more accessible and affordable to residents while ensuring that patients do not have to depend excessively on tertiary hospitals for services that can be provided at the secondary level.
The Mandate Secretary further disclosed that the FCT Administration had continued to meet its premium and capitation obligations to Health Maintenance Organisations under the territory’s health insurance scheme.
With the approval for the completion of the Utako General Hospital, the facility is expected to add to the FCT’s network of public hospitals and expand access to secondary healthcare services for residents within and around Utako.
