*Patients, others scamper for safety

Operations at the oncology department of National Hospital, Abuja, were temporarily disrupted on Monday following a fire outbreak that forced the evacuation of patients and health workers from the affected section.

The incident, reportedly caused by an electrical fault, was however brought under control before it extended to other parts of the hospital.

Sources within the facility disclosed that patients undergoing treatment, including those receiving chemotherapy and emergency medical attention, were swiftly moved to safer sections of the hospital as a precautionary measure.

*Initial trigger

A witness said the situation started after persistent power fluctuations were noticed in the department, adding that electricity supply later failed completely before smoke began to emerge from the unit.

According to the source, a strong burning odour suspected to have originated from electrical wiring was perceived moments before smoke spread across the oncology department.

Medical personnel and patients were immediately directed to vacate the area, while affected patients were transferred to alternative units within the hospital to continue receiving care.

*No life lost

Although no life was lost and no injuries were recorded, traces of smoke reportedly remained around the department for several hours after the incident, leading hospital authorities to temporarily halt activities in the affected unit.

Officials of the hospital confirmed that investigations werre ongoing to ascertain the exact cause of the fire outbreak.

*What National Hospital Abuja stands for

The National Hospital established in 1999, by act 36, as a 200-bed National Hospital for women and Children (NHWC) was domiciled under the Presidency.

It was originally designed to cater for the needs of women and children in Nigeria and the West African sub-region with a view to reducing morbidity and mortality rates, and to carry out extensive research into the peculiar causes of women and children-related diseases in Africa.

However, in the year 2000, the name was changed to National Hospital with a mandate to cater for all and in 2011, it was transferred from the Presidency to the Federal Ministry of Health for supervision.

The hospital expanded to 400-bed and now renders specialist services in all areas of medicine.(Blueprint)