By Peter Samuel
The Ebonyi State Ministry of Health’s monitoring team led by its Permanent Secretary, Dr. Lawrence Ezeogo, has visited five general hospitals outside Abakaliki metropolis: Owutu, Itim-Ukwu, Onueke, Ikwo and Elinwovu, to assess the performance of healthcare personnel.
The team toured various wards, theatres and other units and discussed with staff in order to know their performances, challenges and the areas that require improvement.
At the Owutu General Hospital in Edda LGA, which was the first port of call, the
permanent secretary, commended the Medical Superintendent, Dr. Ude Ota, for the level of improvements in the hospital as all the staff were on duty except for the second medical doctor recently posted to the hospital.
Dr. Ezeogo said he was informed that the absentee doctor worked in the psychiatric department of the Alex Ekwueme Federal University Teaching Hospital Abakaliki (AEFUTHA) and as such handled his assignment with levity.
He, therefore, directed that the doctor’s salary be stopped and a query issued to him.
According to him, “His Excellency employed you, so that we will have enough hands to manage the health state of Ebonyians, who are sick but if you decide to take up a job in another place, resign from this one”.
He promised to do something concerning the hospital’s power and water supply, stating that hospitals require amenities to function optimally.
On his part, the Chief Executive of the State Hospital Management Board (SHMB), Dr. Chidi Ehiem frowned at the inability of the hospital Management to keep proper medical records and directed that there should be daily record of the number of deliveries, surgeries among others and the data sent to his office, to enable him brief the commissioner accordingly.
He maintained that such record would help the hospital to benefit from the Federal Governments Programme called Comprehensive Emergency and Obstetric Newborn Care (CEmONC).
“Report exactly what is happening here. Give us accurate record of delivery. Give us record of CS on daily basis” he said.
Lending his voice, the H.O.D Finance and Accounts of the State Hospital Management Board (SHMB), Mr. Simeon Nweze advised those in charge of revenue to balance their accounts, which will clearly show the price list, the number of drugs sold and its amount as well as the Drug Revolving Fund (DRF) Cash Receipt Serial Number.
He instructed them to update the DRF cash book, to ensure accountability and transparency in all their transactions.
When the team visited the Itim Ukwu General Hospital, Afikpo LGA, the permsec applauded Dr. Igboke John, the medical superintendent, for residing within the hospital’s premises, which according to him, resulted in the increase of the number of patients that visited the hospital regularly.
He noted that the lost glory of the hospital had been restored as some patients were on admission while a lot of them were being attended to by the doctors and nurses on duty.
At the Onueke General Hospital, Ezza South LGA, the Medical Superintendent, Dr. Edith Nwokpo, was told to be fully in charge so that all the health personnel working with him would always be in the hospital to attend to patients.
Dr. Lawrence Ezeogo and Dr. Chidi Ehiem were full of gratitude to the Commissioner for Health, Dr. Moses Ekuma, for setting up the monitoring team to enhance service delivery, and lauded Governor Francis Ogbonna Nwifuru for the procurement of medical equipment and consumables worth billions of naira for the general hospitals across the state.
The team also visited the Ikwo General Hospital, where all the staff were present except the pharmacist. Again, promised directed that the salary of the medical personnel not found on duty be stopped and a query issued to her.
At the Elinwovu General Hospital, Abakaliki LGA, where the team met the Medical Superintendent, Dr. Augustine Nwede, he was seen attending to emergency cases as there was no nurse on duty to assist him.
Following the development, the permsec also directed that the salaries of the absentee medical personnel be stopped and queries issued to them.
The team observed that four of the hospitals visited: Itim Ukwu, Onueke, Ikwo and Elinwovu, did not have records of delivery, Caesarean Sections, and no proper documentation of revenue collection.
The affected hospitals’ management were asked to always update their record of delivery, surgery and revenue generated at every point in time.
The Medical Superintendents of Itim Ukwu, Onueke, Ikwo and Elinwovu appreciated the Commissioner for Health, and the Governor of the State, for providing enabling environment for them to thrive and promised to take care of all the lapses identified by the monitoring team.
