The House of Representatives has asked the federal government to declare a state of emergency in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) healthcare system and ensure that emergency funds are released for hospital upgrades, medical personnel recruitment, and the acquisition of critical medical equipment.
It urged the Federal Ministry of Health, in collaboration with the FCT Administration, to immediately assess the state of health facilities in the nation’s capital and identify critical areas for expansion, upgrade, and resource allocation.
The Green Chamber asked the federal government to design a long-term healthcare infrastructure development plan that aligns with the FCT’s growing population and ensures sustainable and quality healthcare delivery.
These resolutions were reached at plenary on Wednesday, following the adoption of a motion of urgent public importance moved by the member representing Ndokwa East/ Ndokwa West/ Ukwuani federal constituency of Delta State, Hon. Nnamdi Ezechi.
Moving the motion, Ezechi lamented the alarming strain on the healthcare system in the Federal Capital. Government hospitals and medical facilities are severely overstretched, resulting in a critical shortage of bed spaces and medical personnel.
He said the FCT’s population has surged significantly over the past two decades, while many of the existing government hospitals were constructed several years ago, with little or no expansion to match the growing demand for healthcare services.
The lawmaker stated that patients in need of critical medical attention are often left unattended or subjected to long waiting hours due to the unavailability of hospital beds and limited capacity of existing facilities, leading to preventable loss of lives daily.
He expressed concern that “the lack of sufficient medical personnel, including doctors, nurses, and other healthcare workers, further exacerbates the crisis, reducing the quality of care and increasing the burden on the few available staff.
“If immediate interventions are not made, the healthcare crisis may escalate to unmanageable levels, undermining the right to health and threatening the well-being of residents in the nation’s capital.
Ezechi said a strategic review and upgrade of health infrastructure in the FCT, along with a comprehensive recruitment drive for medical professionals, will address the urgent needs and ensure better health outcomes.
Adopting the motion, the House encouraged the FCT Administration to partner with the private sector, stakeholders, and international health agencies to boost capacity in the short term while implementing long-term solutions.
