A nationwide uproar has prompted the Federal Government to initiate a comprehensive investigation into a deeply disturbing video that has gone viral, allegedly depicting critical road accident victims being callously neglected at the Federal Medical Centre (FMC), Jabi, Abuja. This harrowing footage, which inundated social media platforms over the weekend, vividly captures injured individuals purportedly abandoned outside the hospital’s emergency unit, sparking widespread condemnation and demands for accountability.
The good Samaritan who courageously brought the victims to the hospital recounted a shocking initial refusal of care by medical staff, who allegedly cited a scarcity of essential supplies like gloves. The video painfully shows one severely injured victim finally being assisted into the emergency unit, while other injured individuals are forced to navigate their way unaided into the facility.
In a swift and resolute response to the public outcry, the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare has mandated a rigorous investigation into these grave allegations. Meanwhile, Obadiah Gana, the hospital’s Public Relations Officer, confirmed that FMC Jabi has already commenced its own internal probe. Preliminary findings, according to Gana, contradict the claims made in the viral video, asserting that the emergency department was adequately stocked with medical supplies and equipment at the time of the incident.
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“Our initial findings indicate that the emergency department possessed an ample supply of medical consumables, including latex gloves, directly refuting the assertions presented in the video. Furthermore, resuscitation equipment, vital medications, trolleys, and wheelchairs were all readily accessible,” the hospital’s statement affirmed. The ongoing fact-finding process includes intensive interactions with staff on duty and other pertinent stakeholders.
The hospital expressed profound regret for any distress or discomfort caused, pledging to take all feedback seriously and reaffirming their commitment to delivering empathetic and compassionate quality care. They highlighted their dedication to upholding the trust placed in them and vowed to diligently work towards enhancing the quality of their services.
FMC Abuja also underscored its operational indigent fund, designed to support financially vulnerable patients, and proudly noted its successful management of numerous emergency cases, even involving unconscious patients, facilitated by dedicated social workers. The hospital, renowned as a hub for advanced medical procedures such as open-heart surgery, kidney transplants, and complex laser and spine surgeries, reiterated its unwavering commitment to providing quality care with utmost compassion.
