COVID-19: FCT minister inspects 300-bed facility

TRACKING____The Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Minister, Malam Muhammad Bello on Wednesday, in the company of senior officials of the FCTA inspected a five story building that can serve as an isolation and treatment facility for COVID 19 patients, should the need arise in the FCT.

The building, located at the Idu area of the FCT is a new training facility that can be modified to suit the purposes of a treatment and isolation centre as required by the health authorities.

Bello said that the building could be ideal as an isolation and treatment facility.

His words: “the most critical thing is that this place has a lot of space. We are talking of five floors. I don’t think the whole of Abuja will have a hospital facility that can accommodate up to five floors. More importantly, there is power here constantly, and there is adequate water supply.

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According to a statement issued by his Chief Press Secretary, Anthony Ogunleye, the minister however said the relevant health authorities will further inspect the facility to determine its suitability.

He said: “I leave it now for the officials of the Federal Ministry of Health, Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and of course our public health officials. Jointly, they will decide what needs to be done here and we have a lot of commitment from the private sector organizations who are willing to support the national efforts to fight this disease. Once they all agree, I’m sure that within a very short period of time, this place can be made functional”.

In his comments, the Acting Secretary of Health and Human Services Secretariat, Dr Muhammed Kawu said the building is very adequate and can be converted into a 300 bed facility.

The Director of Public Health, Dr. Josephine Okechukwu said the structure was ideal and would serve the purpose as a treatment center.