Coalition of youth organisations in Nasarawa State has expressed its support on the proposed conversion of the Federal Medical Centre, FMC, in Keffi to a teaching hospital for Federal University Lafia.
News Agency of Nigeria, NAN, recalls that the Minister of Health, Dr Osage Ehanire, had recently disclosed Federal Government’s plans to upgrade the FMC Keffi to a teaching hospital.
The minister had stated that the FMC Keffi have all the major equipment, personnel, medical experts and facilities that would facilitate a smooth take-off of the proposed teaching hospital.
Issueing a statement on Sunday in Akwanga Local Government Areaof the state, the Convener of the coalition and Leader of North Central, Arewa Youth Assembly for Good Leadership, AYAGL, Muhammad Lawal, commended the Federal Government for the initiative.
Mr Lawal added that FMC Keffi has facilities which would facilitate the clinical training of medical students in line with international standard to compete with their contemporaries worldwide.
He noted that the proposed teaching hospital in Keffi would cover for not only medical students but the dense population of Mararaba, Masaka and other communities in Karu Local Government as well as the country in general.
The convener added that the decision of the Federal Government was well thought because the centre was strategically located in Keffi which serve as a gateway to the North East, a substantial part of the South East and the North Central.
“Most of Federal Government’s civil servants, who come from various states of the federation and reside in Masaka, Mararaba, Ado, and New Nyanya communities under Karu Local Government in Nasarawa, access medical services at FMC Keffi.
“We also observed that many of them who enrolled in the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) use FMC Keffi as their health service provider.
“Therefore, the proposed upgrading of FMC Keffi to a teaching hospital for Federal University Lafia is a good decision that will benefit all Nigerians,” Mr Lawal said.
He disclosed that already there was a call for the establishment of a National Trauma Centre at FMC Keffi to provide effective psychosocial support to the growing number of accident victims admitted at the centre.
“People traveling to Abuja from all the six states in the North East, South East and North Central passed through Keffi Highway and whenever they have an accident officials of Federal Road Safety Corps rush them to FMC Keffi.
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“That’s why stakeholders are calling for the establishment of National Trauma Centre in Keffi to provide effective care for accident victims. Therefore, upgrading the FMC, Keffi to a teaching hospital will address that demand.”
Mr Lawal, however, thanked the National Assembly, particularly Tanko Al-Makura, the Senator representing Nasarawa South Senatorial District, for sponsoring the bill seeking the establishment of Federal University Teaching Hospital Lafia.
The youth leader also thanked Nasarawa stakeholders who contributed either in joint capacity or individual capacity to actualise the establishment of Federal University Lafia teaching hospital.
The other members of the coalition are: African Visionary Leaders Association, AVILA, Partners for Nasarawa Youth Development, PANAYD, and Nasarawa Youth and Students Leaders Forum, NAYOSLF.