The Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) has distributed 48 vein-finding devices to 14 public hospitals in Abuja. The devices were delivered alongside accessories to support intravenous procedures and blood sample collection, according to a statement released on Wednesday by Lere Olayinka, Senior Special Assistant to the FCT Minister on Public Communications and Social Media.
Dolapo Fasawe, Mandate Secretary of the Health Services and Environment Secretariat (HSES), said the FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike, supported the procurement to strengthen healthcare service delivery. The devices are intended to help medical staff locate veins more accurately, particularly in children, elderly patients, and individuals with obesity.
Fasawe explained that the technology reduces the need for multiple needle insertions, improves clinical efficiency, and eases the stress of medical procedures for patients. "The devices will enable quicker and more accurate venous access, reduce repeated needle insertions and support newly trained medical personnel in carrying out procedures more effectively," she said.
Healthcare workers from the 14 beneficiary hospitals received practical training on how to operate, maintain, and safely handle the devices. The training aims to ensure long-term use and effective implementation across facilities under the Federal Capital Territory Hospitals Management Board (HMB).
The FCTA said the initiative supports ongoing efforts to modernise healthcare infrastructure in the Federal Capital Territory. It is also designed to improve patient outcomes and equip medical personnel with tools that enhance the quality of care in public hospitals.
Nyesom Wike approved equipment for hospitals that previously lacked basic vein-finding tools, exposing gaps in standard medical provisioning. Patients in Abuja's public hospitals faced repeated needle attempts even for routine procedures before this rollout. The fact that such fundamental devices required a specific intervention suggests prior neglect in equipping public health facilities. Now that the devices are in use, their maintenance and consistent availability will determine whether the improvement lasts.
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