Minister of Health, Prof. Onyebuchi Chukwu on Saturday in Abuja commended Nigerians for the voluntary blood donation to the Nyanya bomb blast victims.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Chukwu, and the Minister of State for Health, Dr Khaliru Alhassan, visited the victims on admission in the FCT.
Chukwu also lauded the National Blood Transmission Services, for prompt response in giving blood to the victims, adding that other security personnel and the Red Cross Society did well too.
“Nigerians really did well for responding to emergency like this, many people willingly presented themselves to donate blood for the victims.
“I am also impressed at the level of care the patients are receiving at the various hospitals we have visited,’’ he said.
He cited the need for building of trauma centres as a necessity for emergency such as the bomb blast.
He urged hospitals to upgrade their emergency unit and training of healthcare workers.
The minister said the total number of victims who had injuries were 73, while 20 were dead.
Also, the Minister of State for Health, Dr Khaliru Alhassan, expressed appreciation to all development partners who supported government to take care of the victims.
He gave the assurance that government would ensure that the patients were well treated.
“The issue of security is the responsibility of all citizens, therefore I urge Nigerians to be vigilant and security conscious,’’ he said.
After checking the patients at the Maitama and Nyanya General Hospital, Alhassan said the patients were responding well to treatment.
Dr Abubakar Ahmadu, the Medical Director of the Asokoro General Hospital, said 27 injured victims were brought to the hospital with 11 dead.
Ahmadu said the dead bodies were yet to be claimed by relatives, adding that those on admission were responding to treatment.
He said that the hospital had taken the responsibility to feed the victims three times a day.
In his response, Mr Tayo Haastrup, the Head of Department, Management Information Service, National Hospital, Abuja, said nine victims were at the hospital with six dead bodies brought in. (NAN)
