Victims of Abuja Building Collapse Laud Minister For Settling Medical Bills

 

Some victims of the building that collapsed in the densely populated Garki area in Abuja, Nigeria’s capital, have commended the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, Mr. Nyesom Wike for settling their medical bills.

They expressed gratitude when government officials led by Mr. Malan Haruna, the acting Secretary, of the Health and Human Services Secretariat (HHSS) of the FCT Administration visited them on Saturday.

The two-story building located at Lagos Street, Garki Village collapsed on Wednesday, killing two persons with 37 others evacuated to different hospitals for treatment.

The Minister who visited the scene on Thursday directed the Federal Capital Territory Administration, FCTA, to settle all the medical bills of the victims, receiving treatment in different hospitals.

Responding to the gesture, the victims said on Saturday that they were well taken care of since the Minister’s declaration that their medical bills would be paid by the government.

One of the victims, Mr Abdullahi Modibbo, who is receiving treatment at Asokoro District Hospital, Abuja, said he has not paid any amount following the Minister’s declaration.

Modibbo thanked the Minister for the support, which he described as “life-saving”, saying health workers are taking very good care of him.

He said; “I was in my room on the first floor when the building collapsed on Wednesday night. I was trying to help myself when a boulder fell on my leg, causing a fracture.

“I am happy with the prompt response of government agencies who evacuated us and took us to the hospital for treatment, and now they have offered to pay all our bills. I am truly grateful.” 

Also, the Chief Nursing Officer at the hospital, Mrs Aishatu Tenebe said that eight victims were brought to the facility of which seven have been treated and discharged.

Another victim at Cedarcrest Hospital Gwarinpa, Mr. Garba Nagoma was elated when he heard that his bills would be settled by the government.

Nagoma said that his brother has already paid N500,000 to the hospital as the first bill.

“This is good news knowing that my bills would be paid by the government. I am really grateful for the support,” he said.

The victim said that he visited his friend who resides on the first floor of the building when it collapsed.

He said; “We were having a conversation when one of our friends alerted us that the building was about to collapse.

“We tried to escape but were late. The building collapsed on us while we were still on the first floor, and I survived with a fracture.”

The Group Managing Director of the Hospital, Dr. Kingsley Ikpe, said that Nagoma was the only victim who was brought to the hospital and promised that the hospital would provide the needed care to the victim.

Similarly, Mr. Shehu Mohammed, another victim receiving treatment for head and eye injuries at Garki Hospital, Abuja, equally lauded the Minister for coming to their aid.

Mohammed said he owned a tailoring shop in the building and was still working in the shop when it collapsed.

A medical officer at the facility, Dr Winifred Esite, said that 14 victims were brought to the hospital of which 12 were treated and discharged while one died.

On her part, Mrs. Charity Amadi, one of the victims who was treated and discharged from the facility, equally thanked the FCT Minister for the support.

Amadi, a mother of two and currently pregnant, said they were currently taking shelter at Cherubim and Seraphim Area 2 Shopping Centre, Abuja, stressing that they lost everything in the wreckage.

“I am glad that the government has come to our aid because the hospital asked me to come for a check-up to ensure that my unborn baby and I are fine,” she said.

Speaking at the end of the visit, the HHSS boss, Mr. Malan Haruna said his team visited the hospitals at the directive of the Minister, Nyesom Wike.

Haruna recalled that Wike had directed the FCTA to settle the medical bills of all those affected.

“So we are here in compliance with his directive. We have gone round some of the hospitals and we have seen their condition on the instruction of the Minister to ensure that they are well taken care of.

“So far, four victims are still receiving treatment in hospitals, 31 have been treated and discharged, while two have died.

“We have directed the victims to write the bills and forward them through FCT Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to the health secretariat for onward submission to the Permanent Secretary.

“The quality of services we have seen is very excellent as testified by the victims themselves.”

The Head of Search and Rescue, Mr. Oyegun Moses said that of the two victims who died, one died at the scene of the collapsed building, while the other died at Garki Hospital while receiving treatment.

On the pregnant woman, Mrs. Amadi, Moses confirmed that she would be visiting the hospital for observation to ensure that her unborn child was safe and healthy.

He assured her that any medical bill incurred during the visits would be taken care of by the government.

 

 

 

Mercy Chukwudiebere