The Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) has announced plans to complete and equip the long-abandoned Utako General Hospital in Abuja, Nigeria. This decision was made during a meeting of the FCT Executive Council, presided over by FCT Minister, Mr. Nyesom Wike. The project aims to revive the hospital with construction work, medical equipment, and staffing to enable it to commence operations.
In addition to the Utako General Hospital, the FCTA will also undertake comprehensive rehabilitation and upgrading of 14 other general hospitals across the territory. The Mandate Secretary, FCT Health Services and Environment Secretariat, Dr. Adedolapo Fasawe, disclosed this information while briefing journalists after the council meeting. According to her, the Minister has directed the immediate award of contracts for the rehabilitation, upgrading, and equipping of public secondary healthcare facilities across the FCT.
The overhaul of the hospitals will go beyond structural fixes to encompass modern medical infrastructure. This includes the procurement of new diagnostic equipment, state-of-the-art X-ray machines, and essential surgical instruments for operating theaters. The intervention is designed to strengthen secondary healthcare delivery and make quality medical services more accessible to residents across the territory.
Dr. Fasawe commended the FCT Administration for sustaining the social health insurance programme, noting that payments to Health Maintenance Organisations (HMOs) for premiums and capitations had been consistently cleared. This, she believes, will ensure that residents can access quality, affordable, and accessible healthcare with the upgraded facilities, modern equipment, and available personnel.
The comprehensive upgrade of the hospitals is expected to reduce the burden on tertiary healthcare institutions in Abuja by providing residents with improved services closer to their communities. The massive upgrade programme is expected to ease pressure on existing tertiary health centres in Abuja while expanding safety nets for low- and middle-income residents.
The Utako General Hospital had remained abandoned for several years, but with the Minister's directive, work will resume immediately. The hospital's revival is a key highlight of the council's approvals, and the FCTA is committed to ensuring that residents have access to quality healthcare. The upgraded hospitals will provide residents with improved services, reducing the need for them to seek medical attention in tertiary healthcare institutions.
With the FCTA's efforts to upgrade the hospitals, residents can now look forward to quality, affordable, and accessible healthcare. The intervention includes not only the upgrade of facilities but also the procurement of modern medical equipment and the provision of essential personnel. This move is expected to have a positive impact on the healthcare sector in Abuja, providing residents with better access to medical services.
Key points
- FCTA to complete and equip Utako General Hospital
- Upgrade of 14 other general hospitals across the territory
- Improved healthcare services for residents in Abuja
