Building Collapse : FCTA Moves To Settle Medical Bills Of Victims

Victims of the collapsed building on Lagos Street area of Garki Village have been directed to forward their medical bills through the FCT Emergency Management Agency, FEMA, to the Health Secretariat for onward submission to the FCTA Permanent Secretary.

The acting Secretary, FCT Health And Human Services Secretariat, Mr Malan Noel Haruna, stated this when he visited some of the victims in four Hospitals in Abuja.

Mr Haruna said the visit was in compliance with the FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike’s directive that victims of the collapsed building be adequately cared for.

He expressed satisfaction with the quality of services been given to the victims in the hospitals visited.

“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 their bills and forward them.The quality of services we have seen is very excellent as testified by the victims themselves,” Haruna said.

The Head of Search and Rescue, Mr. Oyegun Moses, told newsmen that one of the victims died at Garki Hospital while receiving treatment while one died on the spot at the scene of the incident.

One of victims at the Asokoro District Hospital, Mr Abdullahi Modibbo described the Minister’s gesture to foot the medical bills as a “life saving” gesture.

“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,” he said.

Also, the Chief Nursing Officer at the hospital, Mrs Aishatu Tenebe, said seven out of the eight victims brought to the Asokoro General hospital have been discharged with no out of the pocket spendings from the victims.

The FCTA Team proceeded to Cedar Crest Hospital Gwarinpa, where a victim by name Garba Nagoma with a fracture, rejoiced upon hearing the information that the government would settle the medical bills explaining that his brother had already made an initial payment of N500,000.

According to him: “We were having a conversation when one of our friends alerted us that the building is about to collapse.We dashed out to escape but we were late. The building collapsed with us while we were still on the first floor, and I survived with a fracture.

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

The Group Managing Director of the Hospital, Dr. Kingsley Ikpe, who confirmed that Nagoma was the only victim that was brought to the hospital added that he was responding to treatment.

The team further proceeded to Garki Hospital, where the medical officer at the facility, Dr Winifred Esite, said 12 out of the 14 victims brought to the hospital had been discharged, one dead and one Mr Shehu Mohammed still receiving treatment for head and eye injuries.

The victim, Mr. Shehu Mohammed, who had a tailoring shop in the collapsed building, said he lost everything in the incident but thanked the FCTA and the rescue team for the intervention and payment of his medical expenses.