The Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) has launched a Workers’ Day medical outreach in Abuja, using the initiative to spotlight the growing threat of non-communicable diseases among civil servants, particularly hypertension and diabetes.
Acting Head of Service, Mrs. Nancy Sabanti Nathan, who flagged off the programme on Thursday, warned that both conditions remain leading but often undetected causes of sudden death among workers.
Describing them as “silent killers,” Nathan said many fatalities attributed to unknown causes are, in reality, linked to unmanaged hypertension or diabetes.
“You hear people say there was nothing wrong with someone—they went to work, came back, slept and didn’t wake up. In most cases, it is hypertension or diabetes,” she said.
She urged civil servants to prioritise routine medical checks, adhere strictly to prescribed treatments, and take full advantage of healthcare services available under the FCTA system.
The outreach, part of activities marking the 2026 Workers’ Day, also served as a platform to boost awareness of the FCT health insurance scheme and the upgraded staff clinic.
According to Nathan, a significant number of workers are unaware they are already enrolled in the health insurance programme despite monthly deductions from their salaries.
“As long as you are a civil servant, you are entitled to quality healthcare, including surgical services where necessary,” she stated.
Data from the first day of the outreach indicates strong participation, with over 400 workers attending. Of that number, about 270 received eyeglasses, while many others were screened and treated for hypertension and diabetes-related conditions.
Nathan said the initiative aligns with directives from the FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike, to improve the welfare of civil servants under the Federal Government’s Renewed Hope Agenda.
She added that the programme would not be a one-off intervention, assuring workers of sustained health campaigns and regular screenings in collaboration with relevant health agencies.
Earlier, Mandate Secretary of the FCTA Health Services and Environment Secretariat, Dr. Adedolapo Fasawe, expressed concern over low awareness of the health insurance scheme among workers.
“I am surprised that some of us do not know we are already enrolled in the health insurance scheme, which gives us access to services we have paid for,” she said.
Fasawe noted that the outreach was designed not only to commemorate Workers’ Day but also to encourage long-serving employees to pay closer attention to their health.
She reaffirmed the commitment of the secretariat to continuous health sensitisation and screening programmes across the FCT, stressing that worker productivity is closely tied to overall well-being.
