No skilled personnel to man facility of ICU in Central Hospital Kwale —-HMB

* Balderdash, go ahead and recruit—DTHA health cttee

By John Egie

One full year after a public-spirited individual, Pastor Chuks Agidigbo, donated medical equipment to the Intensive Care Unit, ICU, of the Central Hospital Kwale, the equipment is yet to be installed and put to use for lack of skilled personnel to man it.

Chief Medical Director of Health Management Board, HMB, Dr Afinota Lawrence gave reason for the disuse of the equipment in the ICU when a delegation of the Delta State House of Assembly Committee on Health paid a working visit to the hospital, Thursday, November 6.

Chairman of the committee, Hon Ferguson Onwo frowned at the excuse given by the HMB lamenting that the goodwill and purpose of the donor to saving the lives of Deltans in Ndokwa, Isoko, Patani, and Ogwashi-Uku area was being thwarted by the failure of the health management board.

He ordered the HMB to immediately go ahead and recruit capable hands to get the equipment working in the ICU of the hospital, assuring that should there be any challenge on the way the health committee would intervene to remedy the situation.

“We, as a committee are giving you the authority to get this place functional; if it is ad-hoc staff, recruit; if it is permanent staff, recruit.

“We are not happy with the state of things, and we want you to make it functional.

DTHA health cttee members in a group photo with staff of the hospital during the visit

”We thank the donor, Pastor Chuks Agidigbo, he should not rest on his oars; if he also has experts to man the equipment we will work out modalities for partnership, but let this equipment be put to use, as the facility will serve Ndokwa, Isoko, up to Patani, and also Ogwashi-Uku.

“This is because the only place we can find this type of facility is Asaba.”

On donation one year ago, the medical equipment was handed over to Governor Sheriff Oborevwori by the donor before it was taken to the hospital for installation and use but unfortunately, the gem was buried in the sand.

Among the members of the House Committee on Health who accompanied Hon. Onwo to visit the hospital were Hon. Mathew Omonade, Hon. Festus Utuama, Hon. Barr. Odior Bernard, and Hon. Perkins Umukoro.