Authority of the Nigerian Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA), has promised to pay special attention to Primary Health Centres development (PHC) and welfare of traditional rulers, across the territory.

The Mandate moves Secretary, FCT Area Council Services Secretariat (ACSS), Abubakar Dantsoho disclosed this on Thursday in Abuja, Nigeria’s capital while having an interaction with staff of the Secretariat to mark his 100 days in office.

He said the secretariat would always be keen on the health of the rural dwellers considering its importance.

Dantsoho further explained that focusing on PHC’s and traditional rulers would help in giving life to the rural people.

The mandate Secretary said the traditional rulers are key stakeholders in FCT and must be given serious attention.

Speaking further on the occasion of one hundred days in office, Dantsoho also hinted that all the ongoing projects in the rural areas will be completed with new ones initiated.

He said there are ongoing projects in the area Councils which will also being given adequate priority.

He also pledged that going forward, the Secretariat has map out plans to upgrade all the traditional institution within the nation’s capital that would enable them compete favourably with what is obtainable currently.

Speaking on behalf of staff of the Secretariat, the Director of Admin and Finance, Mrs Omolola Olanikpeku commended the Secretary on the giant strides he has so far achieve in the Secretariat within the shortest period he assumed office.

She highlighted that within hundred days in office, the Secretary has toured all the six area council and chiefdoms in the FCT to identify and address some of the challenge in those areas.

The Director revealed further that, Dantsoho simplicity nature is encouraging members of staff in the Secretariat to put in their best service delivery thereby boosting productive in the Secretariat.

Mrs Olanikpeku assured the Secretary that, staff of the Secretariat will continue to accord him the necessary support needed to enable him achieve his missions before expiration of his tenure.

She also commended the Secretary on the role he has play toward supervising the February 12th 2022 Area Council election which was seen as most peaceful, free, fair and credible so far.

The Gombe State Contributory Health Management Agency (GoHealth ), revealed that, it has targeted 750, 000 new enrolees from the informal sector in 2022.

The Team leader of GoHealth, Dr Abubakar Musa, disclosed this in an interview with newsmen in Gombe on Thursday.

He said that the agency has so far enrolled over 200, 000 persons from the private sector.

“The informal sector covers employees of companies, additional dependents, artisans and those that were not covered under the formal sector,” Musa said.

He said that the agency has enrolled 70,000 persons from the formal since the inception of the programme in 2021.

”The importance of the scheme cannot be overemphasised. It is meant for the poor, vulnerable and to make healthcare easily affordable,” Musa stated.

He further said that 67 health facilities were accredited as service providers adding that all of them were providing quality service to enrolees.

“These facilities are well equipped with good infrastructure and basic essential equipment, as well as the minimum manpower to provide qualitative healthcare services to the people.”

“Before we accredited them, we ensured that all the facilities will provide best healthcare services money can buy,” he said.

The team leader called on those that have not been enrolled to utilise the opportunity by enrolling.

Federal Medical Centre’s open surgery raises hope for Nigerians as experts at the Federal Medical Centre, Abuja, successfully carried out operations recently for four patients which involved open chest surgeries performed on the muscles, valves and arteries of their hearts to rehabilitate them.

Paving the way for blood to flow properly to the hearts of the patients and reduce their odds of suffering a heart attack. The successful surgeries were the first of its kind in the country.

Visibly excited by the medical feat recorded by the home-grown doctors in Abuja, the Minister of State for Health, Dr. Olorunnimbe Mamora, described it as worthy of celebration.

During his visit to the FMC Abuja, accompanied by the members and Chairman of the hospital governing board, after the successful open heart surgeries, Mamora said: “I am happy and excited regarding this feat and the outcome. Of course, even the machine, one of which, I am told, is the only one in the country at this point in time, makes us very proud of this hospital and the fantastic work the doctors and others are doing to improve health care delivery.”

One of the patients who had the successful open heart surgery at the facility, Aisha Damisa, was said to have earlier been diagnosed with a condition where blood could not flow properly to her heart, and so required an operation in which, among other procedures, a healthy vein or artery would be used to make a new path around the blocked artery to restore proper flow.

Recounting her experiences before and after the operation, she described it as a “bitter sweet” experience. “It was bitter because of the fact that I was not sure what the result will be; whether I will come out of it alive or not. And, sweet because here I am alive,” Aisha said.

The Chief Medical Director of FMC Abuja, Prof. Sa’ad Aliyu Ahmed, who coordinated the processes required for the successful surgeries , already has his eyes set on the next steps, stating “It is not enough for us to just do open heart surgery missions, and then we close our theatres. We are looking at how we can domesticate this feat, and then do these surgeries routinely.”

Nonetheless, some of the challenges facing the medical facility include the need for expansion and further provision of state-of-the-art medical equipment for the hospital. However, the Federal Government has said these issues are already being addressed.

Some FCT residents, who were also thrilled by the breakthrough, said the addition of advanced open heart surgeries to the wide range of medical specialties offered at FMC Abuja will curb medical tourism.

“Open heart surgery is not an easy task, but when you have four successfully done at a go, then be sure that it has to involve an uncommon expertise,” a resident said.

A Benin-based optometrist, Dr. Felix Adeyemi, has advised adults to avoid the use of contact lenses as improper use of contact lenses can cause conjunctivitis and other eye conditions.

The optometrist gave the advice in an interview with newsmen in Benin on Thursday.

Conjunctivitis, also known as pink eye, is an inflammation or infection of the outer membrane of the eyeball and the inner eyelids.

It is a medical condition of irritation or inflammation of the conjunctiva, which covers the white part of the eyeball. It can be caused by allergy, bacterial or viral infection.

Adeyemi stated that the infection can be extremely contagious and is spread by contact with eye secretions from an infected person.

“Lenses are prone to shifting, dryness and other complications. The eyes are more susceptible to infection with contact lens usage. There is a higher risk of bacterial infection with contact lens users. Infections can be caused by prolonged wear, build-up, bacteria, neglectful care and sleeping with contacts on,’’ Dr. Adeyemi said.

According to him, contacts are one of the leading ways to correct vision but there are many disadvantages of using them. He listed the symptoms of conjunctivitis to include redness, itching and tearing of the eyes.

He argued that using contact lenses during sleep or improper application of lenses can also contribute to corneal scratches or tears.

“Build-up of dust or debris under the lens can also lead to scratches on the surface of the eye,’’ Dr. Adeyemi said.

The President of the Senate, Ahmad Lawan, recently, constituted a seven-man conference committee on the Sexual Harassment of Students in Tertiary Institutions Prohibition bill.

The bill was passed by the upper chamber on 7th July, 2020.

The bill was sponsored by the Deputy Senate President, Ovie Omo-Agege representing Delta Central District.

Lawan announced the membership of the conference committee at the start of plenary proceedings.

Senator Micheal Opeyemi Bamidele (Ekiti Central), was named the Chairman of the conference committee.

Other members include: Senators Betty Apiafi, Stella Oduah, Abubakar Kyari, Suleiman Umar, Suleiman Abdu Kwari, and Kola Balogun.

Members of the conference committee are expected to meet with their counterparts in the House of Representatives to harmonize the two versions of the bill passed by both chambers.