FCT Administration Re-Opens General Hospital

The Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Administration yesterday in Abuja re-opened the Rubochi General Hospital in Kuje Area Council after four years of closure.

 Our correspondent reports that the hospital, which was established in 1990 as a health centre was closed in 2006 for renovation and upgrading to a secondary health care status.

FCT Minister, Bala Mohammed, re-opening the hospital, said that his administration believed that health was a fundamental right of all residents in the communities.

He said the upgrading and re-opening of Rubochi Hospital, was part of the administration’s effort to bring health care services closer to the people.

 According to him, with the re-opening of the hospital, Rubochi community and its environs would benefit from various health programmes provided by government.

 “We hold the strong belief that nothing short of a healthy population will make the country to realise its full potentialities and targets set through the vision 20-2020.

 “This is why we endeavor to ensure that health facilities are brought closer to the people in their various communities,’’ he said.

 Mohammed appealed to traditional rulers of Rubochi to enlighten and encourage the people to fully utilise the centre.

 He also urged the Kuje Area Council Chairman, Alhaji Danladi Zhin, to ensure that all primary health care centres in Rubochi and its environs are strengthened and encouraged to make prompt referrals to the Rubochi Hospital.

 Earlier, Dr Precious Gbeneol, the Secretary, FCT Health and Human Development Secretariat said that the hospital, had been upgraded to provide comprehensive health care to the people and take care of referral cases.

 She said that the hospital would also offer free ante-natal care for all pregnant women from conception to six weeks after delivery.

 She also said that they would also offer under-five treatment programmes which would ensure that all children under-five, had access to quality and free medical treatment.

 Zhin appealed that indigenes of Rubochi residing within,  should be considered during the employment of health personnel for the hospital.

He also appealed for the provision of budgetary allocation in 2011 budget for the construction of additional hospitals to be cited in Kwaku and Gudunkarya wards of the area.