Chairman, Committee on Foreign Affairs in the House of Representatives, Rt.Hon. ( Dr.) Yusuf Buba, has said that the establishment of a new Federal Medical Centre in Hong, Adamawa State, will provide over 3000 direct jobs to the teeming unemployed youths in the country.
Buba, a member representing Gombi /Hong Federal Constituency, stated this on Thursday in a statement by his Special Adviser on Media and Public Affairs, Nkem Anyata-Lafia, in Abuja.
The lawmaker said other opportunities that would emanate from the facility include the enormous multiplier effects of jobs that have been created for both medical and administrative workers.
He reiterated his earlier view that more tertiary health facilities can be established closer to the people in order to afford them access to quality healthcare and timely interventions during emergencies.
He, also, said that the existing facilities were already overstretched considering Nigeria’s population of over 200 million people.
“I have always advocated that a Federal Medical Centre or one tertiary health facility be established very close to the people across the country.
“But due to paucity of funds, we cannot achieve that now.
“But, this is still very important so that the people of Nigeria could have accessible quality medical facilities.
“If you look at Adamawa State today,for instance, the only Federal Medical Centre that we ‘ve had until now is overstretched, so congested, patients go and won’t have bed spaces.
“They will have critical, emergency cases, patients will be in the Emergency Unit for one or two weeks because the facility is overstretched!
“So,with this facility being provided by the law Mr. President signed last week, it is, indeed, a plus for our people and the area,” Buba said..
On how long it would take for the new FMC Hong to commence operations, the Adamawa-born lawmaker said President Muhammadu Buhari in his approval had directed an immediate release of funds for the take-off of the facility.
He said already several private- sector organisations , the host community of the facility and others have since made several quality donations, ranging from state-of- the- art medical equipment to land.
This, he stressed, was to ensure a fast and almost seamless transition to the new status of the facility.
