Group Protests Alleged Racketeering, Poor Service in NAUTH
A Civil Society group under the aegis of Advocates For Good Governance on Monday protested alleged poor service delivery at the Nnamdi Azikiwe University Teaching Hospital (NAUTH), Nnewi, Anambra.
The group who gathered at the gate of the hospital gate with varying placards also alleged cases of job racketeering and financial in propriety by the management.
In a letter entitled “Abuse Of Due Process, Racketeering, Extortion, Graft And Celebration Of Corruption At Nnamdi Azikiwe University Teaching Hospital, Nnewi”, the group faulted the Chief Medical Director selection process.
According to the group which claimed anonymity, we, the patients , patients’ relations, staff of NAUTH and residents of Anambra and we have poor service rendered by hospital.
“There is lack of drugs in the hospital , most painful include absence of drugs in emergency and theatre , leading to patients being frequently asked to go outside the hospital to procure drugs.
“Surgical operations are being frequently postponed due to lack of materials in the theatre, this frequently leads to patients death in emergency situations and wounds unattended to for days due to lack of materials for dressing
“As members of Advocates for Good Governance and interested parties, we were quite concerned and alarmed to discover that Jobs are racketeered and sold, this leads to recruitment of unqualified personnel.
“We have decided to carry out a peaceful protest to sensitize the public on what is happening in NAUTH, the only Federal medical institution in Anambra and demand the cancellation of the whole CMD selection process and new one started
“Dissolution of the present hospital management board because they can never oversee a free , fair and transparent process , they are already compromised and are part of the on going corruption
“Dr Ugboaja should step aside as Acting CMD and participate with others on a level playing ground,” they stated.
Reacting to the protest, Dr Ugboaja, the Acting CMD said he was aware of the protest and dismissed the protesters as faceless and paid miscreants.
Ugboaja said the protesters were sponsored by members of the hospital community who lost out in the contest and wished to blackmail the management and mislead the general public.
He said there were due processes of seeking redress for perceived infractions rather than making public show with the use of ‘miscreants’.
“It is sad that members of the hospital community can sponsor such propaganda, whoever is not satisfied with anything should follow the right channel, which include the hospital board and the ministry of health.
“The people behind it are not happy that they lost even though they know nothing about hospital management,”he said.
