By Noah Ocheni, Lokoja
A member of the house of representatives from Kogi, Tajudeen Yusuf on Friday called on the minister of health, Osagie Ehanire to reopen the federal medical centre in Kogi state to safe lives.
The Federal lawmaker who made the call in statement released on Friday said the closure of the hospital “has caused more deaths for patients whose health complications would have been better managed at FMC Lokoja”.
Four months ago, FMC Lokoja, the only federal health facility in the confluence state offering quality, professional services to indigenes and residents in the state, was closed on the orders of the federal ministry of health following an alleged invasion of the hospital by thugs,” the legislator said.
“Since then, our people have been travelling all the way to Abuja or Akure, Ibadan and Lagos for health conditions that could otherwise be treated at FMC Lokoja; patients with prior medical appointments now face the rigours of travelling far for medical attention, even at the risk of further complicating their health challenges”. he added.
“Many indigent patients are now forced to live in precarious conditions and several of those who can afford the trips to Abuja or other cities face increased likelihood of death.”
He stressed that the People from all three senatorial districts and seven federal constituencies in Kogi State are stridently appealing to the conscience of the Minister and others in authority for the re-opening of FMC, Lokoja.
“The centre has some of the best hands in most fields of medical care, including expert eye surgeons and one of the very best cardiologists in Nigeria.”
It would be recalled that thugs attacked the medical centre and it was eventually closed since July 2020.
The disruption and vandalisation of some parts of the hospital by the hoodlums occurred during a press conference where the management of the hospital was planning to request for a COVID-19 screening centre and the challenges faced by the medical institution.
