By Daniel Tyokua
The Federal Capital Territory Administration has secured additional bed spaces in Gwagwalada Specialist Hospital and Karu General Hospital to attend to any emergency of symptomatic patients of the dreaded coronavirus.
FCT Minister of State, Dr. Ramatu Tijjani disclosed this during an inspection of medical facilities in both Gwagwalada Specialist Hospital and Karu General Hospital.
She revealed that provisions have been made for 32 bed spaces in Gwagwalada, while that of Karu will accommodat 300 patients.
In a statement issued by Austine Elemue, Special Assistant (media) to the minister, explained that the plan to make provisions for additional bed spaces was not to instill fears in the residents, but it is a proactive measures to respond to any emergency, just as she called on residents to stay safe and observe all precautionary measures put in place by relevant authorities.
At Karu General Hospital, the minister gave the contractors handling the project 48 hours to put finishing touches to the facility, otherwise get the contract terminated, stressing that the Karu facility will accommodate 300 patients.
In her words, ” This Karu facility will accommodate about 300 patients and we are here to inspect the facility and the level of preparedness. The contractors are about to commence work and to install the oxygen plant to ensure that there is enough oxygen supply for confirmed cases to be used. We are giving the contractors 48 hours to ensure that the job is done as scheduled or get the contract terminated”.
Aliyu, used the occasion to inspect the fumigation exercise of Wuse market, where she called on traders to comply with all the safety measures in curtailing the coronavirus.
Speaking to journalists in Garki market, Managing Director of Abuja Markets Management Limited (AMML), Mallam Abubakar Farouk, revealed that the ongoing decontamination was the pet project of the FCT Minister of State in ensuring that public places are protected against the spread of the coronavirus.
Farouk also stated that though the management of Abuja markets carry out fumigation every six months against rodents, the current exercise was targeted at curtailing the spread the ravaging COVID-19, stressing that besides the decontamination of the market, trading activities have been reduced to 28 percent in compliance to social distancing rule.
Other measures put in place according to him include provisions of over 30 hand washing points, sanitizers in shops and ensuring that only food stuffs and pharmaceutical items are sold in the market.
