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By Oscar Okhifo
For public hospitals and other health facilities in the nation’s capital, it’s fear and apprehension galore. This has to do with unpaid internet subscription bill by the office of the FCT Mandate Secretary (Commissioner) for Health Services and Environment.
This grim reality has forced a cry for help out of patients and medical workers alike to the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Mr. Nyesom Wike.
There is indeed rising fear among residents , patients and healthcare givers over the consequences that will befall their operations and in-patients if internet services to public hospitals and healthcare facilities.are disrupted . They therefore want the office of the Mandate Secretary to do the needful immediately to avoid disruptions and the aftermath results..
Some patients and residents were reportedly turned back some hospitals by the management for fear of sanctions from the FCTA over operating without the required approvals, while at the same time, the office of the Mandate Secretary has allegedly failed to pay for the internet subscriptions that the FCTA agency needs to approve and issue licenses.
An hospital administrator, Prof. Julius Oviawe, who made this known to newsmen in Port Harcourt, Rivers State at the weekend, expressed his frustration at abandoning a scheduled medical service in a hospital in Abuja and proceeded to the University of Port Harcourt Teaching Hospital (UPTH) for service over the failure of the officials of the FCTA Health Services & Environment to promptly act as required.
According to him, the hospitals management, which he refused to mention, are dismayed that Dr. (Mrs.) Adedolapo Fasawe, the Mandate Secretary (Commissioner) of Health Services & Environment in the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA), Abuja allegedly failed to renew her agency’s internet subscription thereby causing hospitals across the FCT to delay rendering life-saving medical services to the patients because these hospitals are waiting to receive approvals from the FCTA whose internet subscription expired long ago with no hope of restoration.
Another medical practitioner, Dr. (Mrs.) Adejoke Fashanu, a British trained Medical Doctor, who spoke on telephone from Abuja, accused the office of the Mandate Secretary of gross incompetence.
She called on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike to immediately investigate the allegations and to ensure that the subscriptions are paid.
She emphasized on the need to sanction all those involved. “Even the Mandate Secretary should be queried or sanctioned.” She said.
“What they have done is placing hospital operations in FCT on hold and putting the lives of patients at risk due to their alleged failure to pay the agency’s internet subscription.
This reality has left patients and hospitals in disarray across the FCT, thereby putting scores of patients in jeopardy”
Dr. (Mrs.) Fashanu called on the Minister of the FCT., H.E. Chief Ezenwo Nyesom Wike to immediately launch a discreet investigation into these gross failures under his leadership, and wield the big stick on whoever that is found wanting.
“These are some of the reasons why our doctors are fleeing overseas. In fact, it is embarrassing and disgusting that up until a few weeks ago, Dr. (Mrs.) Adedolapo Fasawe’s the Mandate Secretary of Health Services & Environment in the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) only had one vehicle to patrol the entire FCT for hospitals and medical facilities inspections and approval.
“And now, they have two vehicles, and they are celebrating that they have made progress.
“The President and the FCT Minister should act immediately to deter such from happening across the country, because issues like these bastardize the name of our beloved country.” She ended.