The Dwindling Fortunes Of The National Hospital Abuja
The National Hospital Abuja was founded by former Nigerian first lady, Mrs. Maryam Abacha under her Family Support Programme (FSP). Family Support Programme (FSP) was designed to enables families to find solutions to the family challenges they face and to equip them with confidence to manage future challenges
She articulated a hospital that will serve as an apex Referral institution of Medical Care in the West African sub-region for the specialized care of patients. It was intended to be the topmost healthcare research centre with a holistic medical programme for Nigerians and the subregion. The Hospital was originally designed to cater for the health of the mother and child, then known as National Hospital for women and Children (NHWC). In 2011, the hospital metamorphosed to rendering holistic medical care to all people with medical needs. With the new assignment, it became what is today known as "National Hospita Abuja".
Like many other public facilities in Nigeria, the services of National hospital is gradually deteriorating and in a fast pace. In 2022, there were complaints of the hospital patients not able to carry our many laboratory tests in the hospital because certain reagents was out of stock for weeks and months. I remeber a woman who needed to run certain test but was told to come in three weeks time because they were expecting certain delivery of a chemical or equipment from a Bayelsa State supplier. She ended up seeking for help from a private hospital. It has been endless tales of woe to many patients, including the family whose daughter died as a result of an overdose of insuline, administered by a nurse at the hospital. As the healthcare delivery from the hospital is rapidly dwindling, the physical infrastructue is also contesting for a place in woes confronting the hospital.
To be fair to the hard working doctors, nurses and other caregivers at the hospital, they remain the best the nation can boast of but the system is constantly undermining their skills.
The current scandal at the National Hospital Abuja is the apparent inaccessibility/loss of health records of patients from the hospital's data base. It is believed that there is currently a crisis on the IT section of the hospital where it is alleged that a certain IT consultant of the hospital has stalled access to the data base of the hospital. This seems to be the dummy being sold to stranded patients.
It is highly speculated that the new CMD who may likely tow the foot part of his predecessors may want to install structures different from what he met on assumption of office. The IT consultant's agreement was rumoured to have suddenly terminated and was replaced with a new company allegedly brought by the new CMD while theformer contractor may not have been properly disengaged. This has stalled access to patients information and has frustrated the efforts of the very good doctors in the hospital. Most embarrassing is the water and light situation in the once 'centre of excellence'. The internal streets of the hospital wallow in darkness at nights even with the emergence of revolutionary solar lighting system. It was also observed that few nurses and other caregivers in the hospital are very unfriendly and inpatient with patients, most probably transfering their poor working conditions frustrations to already disillusioned patients.
Federal Ministry of Health who supervises the hospital must intervene and restore the chequered image of The National Hospital, Abuja.