– CMD, Others Management Staff fingered
Concerned staff of Imo State University Teaching Hospital, Orlu have lamented over what they referred to as the fraudulent disappearance of some of the hi-tech state of the art equipment that made the hospital a reference point in its hey days.
They expressed regret that the hospital which is the only meaningful government institution of learning and medical facility in Orlu has become a shadow of its self under the watch of the current Chief Medical Director CMD(Namewitheld) who they said, is Governor Uzodinma’s kinsman, from Omuma, in Orlu East Local Government Area.
Members of some staff unions in the hospital disclosed this when they visited a notable Chief, leader and stakeholder in the community to register their displeasure about the alleged fraudulent activities of the current management of the hospital under the current Chief Medical Director who they accused of complicity.
Speaking on behalf of his colleagues, the leader of the delegation, Charles onyegbosi alleged that an MRI machine that is worth over #250m was removed to an unknown destination without proper documentation as to why it was removed and where it was taken to, as should be the case, under normal circumstances.
‘’The MRI machine which was installed in the hospital when Dr Chukwuezi, was the CMD remained all through the tenures of five CMDs including Dr Chukwulebe, Nzewuihe, Anoruo and Duru. Curiously, it developed wings and flew away under the watch of the current CMD, who like the Governor is an indigene of Omuma, in Oru East LGA.
‘’We were reliably informed that youth of Umuna, Orlu who got wind of plans to remove the MRI machine, reportedly mobilized to the scene and deflated the tyres of the crain that those who wanted to steal the equipment came with. But surprisingly the next day, the same Umuna youths brought a vulcanizer to pump the tyres of the crain to enable it take the machine away’’.
‘’Those who stole the MRI machine, also removed the expensive armoured cables with which it was connected and sold the machine for less than #1.2m.
The same scenario also allegedly played out at Obowo where a Danlysis machine worth #36m was removed in questionable circumstances,’’ they alleged.
Continuing, the group said the disturbing aspect that makes the current Chief Medical Director the prime suspect in the saga is that, shortly after he assumed office, he removed the former Chief Security Officer of the Hospital who is a security expert and replaced him with his Personal Assistant who has little or no experience in security matters’’.
‘’Please, note that what we are talking about here now is the stealing of physical properties and not the alarming rate of paper stealing which is beyond comprehension’’.
They told the Chief to convey their message to the Traditional ruler who they expressed intention to meet in no distant time, alongside the members of his cabinet. They also posited that if urgent steps are not taken to address the situation the Imo State Teaching Hospital, Orlu will, in no distant time become moribund.
Effort to reach the CMD of IMSUTH was unsuccessful as he didn’t take his call at the time of going to the press.
