In response to public outrage over a viral video exposing lapses in emergency service delivery at the Federal Medical Centre (FMC) Abuja, the Minister of State for Health and Social Welfare, Dr. Iziaq Salako, paid a surprise visit to the hospital’s emergency unit to assess the situation firsthand and push for immediate reforms.
The viral clip, which showed an accident victim being brought to the hospital by a good Samaritan only to face delays and apparent staff apathy, sparked widespread criticism and prompted the minister to launch an official investigation.
The outcome of that probe informed his unannounced visit, which was aimed at holding the facility accountable and fast-tracking improvements.
During his tour of the emergency unit, Dr. Salako held candid discussions with medical personnel, including the Chief Medical Director and a consultant neurosurgeon and Head of Medical Emergency, Dr. Timothy Sama’ila. “You are in the eye of the storm, being responsible for saving lives. Even if you’ve done a million things right, one mistake can erase all that. In emergency care, you must get it right every time,” the minister told hospital staff.
Dr. Sama’ila acknowledged that limited space, fluctuating staff availability, and a high volume of emergency cases in Abuja have contributed to service delays. The minister took note of these concerns but emphasised that they must not be used as an excuse for failure in critical care delivery.
“The reality of our environment must be met with proactive planning and responsive management,” Dr. Salako said.
Dr. Salako directed the hospital management to fully implement the recommendations of the investigative panel. Among the key directives:
The minister called for an immediate review of staff strength in the emergency unit, urging the deployment of at least four casualty officers per shift.
He stressed the importance of integrating newly recruited health assistants into emergency care teams without delay. While acknowledging improvements in electricity and water supply, the minister flagged areas in the emergency wing that require urgent upgrades and better organization.
Dr. Salako pressed for enhanced security and crowd control measures, including surveillance cameras to ensure accountability and ambulance access. The hospital noted ongoing collaborations with private guards and the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC)
Dr. Salako also revealed plans for a nationwide emergency care training programme, a new federal initiative aimed at standardising emergency response protocols across public hospitals.
“Everyone is watching you now. Use this moment to set a standard for what compassionate and competent emergency care should look like,” the minister told staff.
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