Since the Index case of coronavirus was reported in Nigeria on 27 February 2020, government and health sector stakeholders have not rested. They have been trying to provide facilities for the isolation and treatment of those who may be infected by the deadly virus. CALEB ONWE reports that the government is currently battling for accommodation of patients
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he COVID 19 pandemic came upon the world unannounced and arrived with such a fury that government at a levels in Nigeria have been forced into a compulsory race for the upgrade of healthcare facilities.
The Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA ) did not want to be caught unawares by this challenge and began scouting for accommodation for prospective COVID 19 patients.
Some of the healthcare facilities that hitherto had been in need of upgrade, have received quick attention, while more temporary facilities are also being sought.
As at the last count, confirmed cases of COVID 19 in Abuja was less than 500 but the FCTA said it has prepared more than 1,000 bed capacity isolation and treatment centre.
Minister of the FCT, Mallam Muhammad Bello, said it was his wish that the pandemic be demobilized in good time but will not relent in his efforts at containing its spread.
Inside Abuja checks showed that those who have contracted the novel virus, are currently being treated at the University of Abuja Teaching Hospital ( UATH), Gwagwalada and Asokoro District Hospital. These are two existing facilities that were converted into COVID 19 response centres recently.
It was also learnt that the District Hospital in Karu, one of the satellite towns in the territory is undergoing a strategic facelift, as it has been designated at an isolation and treatment centre for COVID 19 patients.
The ongoing fight against the deadly Coronavirus in Abuja was further boosted, following the completion and presentation of the 506-bed spaces at Idu COVID-19 Isolation and Treatment Centre.
Inside Abuja‘s investigation revealed that the ‘ Idu Centre ‘ is four storey edifice originally constructed as a Railway Training Institute but has remained unoccupied for a long time.
The facility, converted for the purpose of fighting the deadly virus, is said to be equipped with ventilators , mobile x-rays and ultra sound machines, and is located at a strategic location in Idu Railway Terminal.
The Minister, who recently commissioned the centre, stated that it was furnished and equipped with the partnership of some corporate individuals and organization, and was coordinated by the Ministerial Expert Advisory Committee on COVID-19.
Bello explained that apart from the building which FCTA donated, every other thing put in place, was a private sector intervention, to contain the pandemic in the nation’s capital.
He expressed optimism that the pandemic could be defeated but admonished residents to observe all the hygiene protocols, so that the pandemic does not escalate and overstretch the available facilities.
“As you are aware, in the last one week, all process of gradual easing of lockdown has commenced in FCT. However, this has shown that the wider community is not very compliant with respect to social distancing and other protocols.
“So, I want to use this opportunity based on what we have here and what we have at Asokoro Hospital as well as what we have at Karu General Hospital to say that we have enough redundancy of bed space but that should not make us to be complacent.
“Because if we do not continue with what we are doing now, with a lot of restrictions and compliance, then if this thing gets out of hand, we may wake up and find that the facilities we have might not be enough,” Bello said.
The latest in the series of emergency facilities is the ThisDay Dome, which was recently converted to an Isolation and Treatment Centre in Abuja. This has further expanded the number of healthcare facilities ready to receive patients of COVID 19, should there be an escalation of cases.
It was learnt that the facility is a contributions of the Coalition Against COVID-19 ( CA-COVID) in partnership with the Sahara Energy Group and THISDAY Media & Technology Group.
The centre comprises the “Sahara Foundation Wards and ICU Centre, complete with Ventilators, X- Ray and Dialysis; THISDAY 54gene Testing Mobile Lab, complete with reagents – with scalable 200 – 1000 tests per day; THISDAY 98 – Room Hotel & Conference Centre next door for medical staff for 6 months; CBN Medical Grant in direct support to FMoH and FCDA for day to day management of the Isolation Centre and industrial grade medical incinerator.”
At the official unveiling of the centre, Minister of the FCT noted that it would add to the bed spaces being used as treatment and isolation centres in Abuja.
He said with this facility, the FCT has almost reached its target of 1000 bed spaces.
Inside Abuja further learnt that the Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation ( NNPC) has also perfected plans to donate a 70- bed hospital, located at Utako District of the City, for the purpose of fighting the deadly virus.
Group Managing Director of the NNPC, Malam Mele Kyari, who led the FCT delegation on a tour of the 70- bed hospital, said the facility has 10 Intensive Care Units (ICUs) and other critical healthcare components.
Kyari also expressed pleasure over the handling of the COVID-19 pandemic in the Territory, noting that despite the challenges posed by the coronavirus, the response by health workers in FCT has been laudable.
Maintenance of facilities
While stakeholders have commended the emergency facelift which healthcare facilities in the Federal Capital Territory are receiving, some have expressed concerns over government’s capacity to maintain the facilities.
Their concerns are based on the fact that government is transitory and those who control the machinery of governments, most times are not accountable with public property. They also expressed fears that those who are presently managing the facilities, may not be in their current position forever, and the challenge of mismanagement may ensue.
The FCTA is yet to disclose its post COVID 19 plans concerning these facilities that have been converted to Isolation and Treatment Centres. Many residents wish that a place like the Idu Treatment Centre be made a specialized hospital, considering the quality of equipment installed there through the private sector. The expectations are high concerning the maintenance of these facilities, but only time will tell.
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