– Hospital Where Patients Are Asked To Pay For Diesel Before Treatment
Patients and staff of the Imo State UniversityTeaching Hospital IMSUTH, Orlu, have lamented the deplorable state of the high profile facility that boasted boasted of state of the art equipment that have reportedly been carted away by successive criminal minded members of management.
Our correspondent who visited the hospital recently to aunthenticate the disturbing reports of neglect and abandonment, said the hospital has not only lost its glory but has also become a shadow of itsself.
Some patients and traumatized staff of the hospital who spoke on the condition of anonymity expressed concern and disappointment said that things have become so bad that patients now contribute money to buy diesel to power the generator whenever there is need, especially when there is a surgery to be performed or an emergency to address. This, they said, is because the management complains that the hospital is under-funded.
“The problem of the hospital is hydra-headed and deserves the urgent intervention of the state government. Though the hospital has less staff than it needs, those presently employed are complaining of non payment of salaries and other entitlements. Aside from the entrance, the entire hospital premises is overgrown with bushes that have made the environment an abode for snakes and other dangerous reptiles. The offices, conveniences and the entire vicinity are dirty and unhygienic, thereby constituting danger to the lives of the staff and patients.
Though I am a staff of the hospital, I will not advise a friend, relative or acquaintance to either patronize or seek the services of the hospital because of its low standard. For instance, most of the consultants have stopped coming to work for a very long time. It is ridiculous that Governor Hope Uzodinma, who is from Orlu zone has not thought it wise to address the problems of the hospital more than five years after he assumed office”.
