Sequel to our head line story of last week’s publication captioned, “Poor Services at Central Hospital, Agbor”, in edition Vol. 4: Edition 71 Saturday August 11-Saturday –August 18, 2018, the Medical Director of the Hospital, Dr. Philemon, Okolie has denied some account given by Ika residents, saying that every life is sacred at the Central Hospital as there is no perfection in any system.
He made the clarification while speaking with Ika Weekly Newspaper reporters at his office on Wednesday 15th August 2018.
Coming to the defense of the hospital, he stated that contrary to the report that people are asked to pay for fuel before they are attended to, they have never asked patients to buy fuel before they are attended to. He said the hospital fuels the generator by internally generated funds from the hospital. He however stated that anyone with such complaints should report to the Hospital Management.
Addressing the report of the lady who claimed she lost her baby after delivery due to delay from the nurses, Dr. Okolie said there are two gynecologist in the Hospital, therefore they have enough hands that live up to their responsibilities, explaining that the government has provided all they need to carry out their jobs effectively. He explained that the lady may have been placed under observation for a period of time and not being neglected by the nurses like she claimed. He opined that on delivery, if a child dies, there might be other circumstances surrounding the death, not necessarily due to negligence as alleged.
He said that when a child is delivered, if there are issues, they bring in the gynecologist to give proper attention to the chil, stating that every life is sacred to them hence they attend to everyone with fairness and equality.
He opined that there is no perfection in any system; hence, if any loophole is found in the course of administering services, the Hospital Management should be made aware for substantive measures to be taken.
Addressing the case of a resident who recounted that on being admitted at the hospital recently she asked for drinking water at the late hours of the night and was told the hospital did not have drinking water, he explained that the hospital doesn’t sell drinking water, opining that whomever brought her to the hospital would have been in the best place to provide her with drinking water. He stated that the image of the Hospital cannot be damaged.
Explaining that the State government led by the Governor Sen. Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa ensures that staff of the State Government is paid their salaries on a monthly basis, he said there are many issues which cannot be resolved in one day, referring to Rome which was not built in a day.
“There are multiple problems, a lot of issues, but I must tell you that all of these things cannot be addressed in one day, Rome they say was not built in a day, you cannot come here and expect everything to be perfect. Even in the best Hospitals in the world, you cannot get everything there, go and find out” he asserted.
Speaking on the issue of black out at the hospital, he stated that light issue is a national problem not applicable to Central Hospital alone. He averred that they are aware of the lighting situation which leaves the Hospital in darkness especially at Night, he revealing that having been on 11kva transformer, Gov. Okowa through the appropriate parastatals have been able to supply the hospital with a 30KVA transformer.
He declared that in no distant time, the lighting system at the hospital will improve. He pointed out that the Governor of the State in his own wisdom is doing his best.
Speaking on the security situation at the Central Hospital as contained in our report, he explained that in every institution, there are a few bad eggs. He said there are cases where people abandon their duty post, stating that in such cases, they are treated according to the Code of Conduct guiding them. He hinted that the Hospital needs more hands in the area of security, assuring that the government is employing one at a time approach in settling challenges facing the hospital.
