…….. Says lawmaker lied against hospital staff, appeals for thorough, neutral investigations, and anyone found wanting no matter highly placed should face the law.
The management of General Hospital, Umaisha in Toto LGA of Nasarawa State has cleared the air over allegations of stolen hospital equipments raised by the member representing Umaisha/Ugya constituency at the Nasarawa State House of Assembly Hon. Ibrahim Abdullah Sa’ad.
The hospital issued a statement titled
“THE OTHER SIDE OF THE UMAISHA GENERAL HOSPITAL STORY: SETTING THE RECORD STRAIGHT”
The statement reads.
“Recent events surrounding Umaisha General Hospital have generated considerable public attention, particularly following a viral video involving the member representing the Ugya/Umaisha Constituency in the Nasarawa State House of Assembly, Hon. Sa’ad Abdullahi, during a medical outreach at the hospital.
“As a staff member of the hospital who was present and familiar with the circumstances surrounding the donated items, I believe it is important that the public is given the other side of the story—not to attack anyone, but to provide the facts and prevent an unfortunate misunderstanding from becoming a false narrative about the hospital and its hardworking staff.
“What Was Actually Donated?
” The items brought to Umaisha General Hospital included 10 mattresses, approximately 32 standing and ceiling fans, and solar lighting equipment.
“it is important to clarify that the mattresses were ordinary mattresses and not orthopaedic mattresses, contrary to some descriptions circulating in the public space.
” The solar lighting equipment was installed by the team that brought the items. Some of the ceiling fans were also installed by the same team, while the remaining items were kept in the hospital store for subsequent deployment.
“The hospital also had mattresses donated separately by a traditional title holder within the community. Therefore, not every mattress found within the hospital originated from the donation in question.
“The hospital has photographic evidence and an inventory relating to the donated items.
“Why Were Some Items in Different Locations?
“Umaisha General Hospital is a considerable distance from Lafia, where the headquarters of the Hospital Management Board is located. Because of the remoteness of the facility, the hospital frequently has to make practical arrangements to support staff who are newly posted to the community.
“One such practice has been the provision of a mattress to newly posted staff by the hospital secretary, as a gesture of goodwill, pending the period when the staff member settles down and is able to provide personal accommodation items.
“This arrangement should not automatically be interpreted as diversion or personal appropriation of hospital property.
“Furthermore, responsibility for the distribution and management of beds in the wards rests with the appropriate nursing authorities. The hospital has several wards, with approximately three to five beds in each ward. Consequently, the location of particular mattresses or fans cannot accurately be determined merely by looking at one ward.
“What Happened During the Lawmaker’s Visit?
“There is another important aspect of the incident that has not received sufficient attention.
“The lawmaker’s presence at the hospital was not originally a routine inspection visit. A medical outreach had been organised in collaboration with the lawmaker and the hospital staff to provide medical and surgical services to members of the Umaisha community.
“During the outreach, the lawmaker proceeded to one of the hospital wards.
“It was during this movement through the ward that questions arose concerning some of the items he had donated.
“The hospital secretary, who was present, was questioned about the location of some of the items. However, the secretary was not the officer directly responsible for the day-to-day distribution of beds and other items within the wards. That responsibility falls primarily within the nursing structure, with the Head of Nursing Services overseeing the wards.
“Importantly, the lawmaker did not inspect all the wards before reaching his conclusion. His observation was based substantially on what he saw in one particular ward.
“This is significant because the hospital has several wards and the donated items had been distributed between different locations, including wards, staff accommodation and the hospital store.
“The Issue of the Alleged Missing Items
“A careful examination of the viral video is also necessary.
“The lawmaker’s direct question was essentially about the whereabouts of the items he had donated. The allegation that the items had been stolen and sold was subsequently amplified by one of his aides, identified as Yusuf Badugu.
“This distinction is important.
“The hospital staff did not take the position that the donated items had disappeared. Rather, the items had been deployed to different locations according to the needs of the hospital, while some remained in storage.
“Following the incident, the situation was clarified and the donated items were accounted for.
“The hospital’s records, inventory and photographs provide evidence that the items existed and had been received by the facility.
“What Happened After the Incident?
“After the misunderstanding was brought to his attention and the position of the items was clarified, the lawmaker was informed of the actual situation.
“According to the account of staff present, he subsequently expressed regret over the misunderstanding and apologised to the hospital staff through the Medical Superintendent.
“This development is important because it demonstrates that what initially appeared to be a case of missing or diverted hospital property was, upon clarification, capable of being accounted for.
“The Photographic Evidence
“Photographs taken in the hospital show a substantial number of standing and ceiling fans, as well as other equipment and supplies within the facility.
“These photographs are consistent with the explanation that the donated items were not simply removed from the hospital.
“The photographs should therefore be considered alongside the inventory and other documentation before anyone concludes that hospital staff stole, sold or diverted donated property.
“A Call for Fairness.
“The staff of Umaisha General Hospital understand and appreciate the importance of accountability, particularly when public donations and healthcare resources are involved.
“Nobody should be above scrutiny, and every allegation involving public property deserves proper investigation.
“However, accountability must be based on facts, records and a complete understanding of circumstances, rather than conclusions drawn from a single ward or a short video clip.
“The viral nature of the incident has unfortunately created an impression in some quarters that hospital staff may have stolen or sold equipment donated to the hospital.
“That impression is deeply concerning to staff who continue to work in a remote healthcare facility under challenging circumstances to provide services to the Umaisha community.
“The appropriate questions should therefore be:
“Were the items received?
“Were they documented?
“Where were they deployed?
“Were the remaining items accounted for?
“And most importantly:
“Is there evidence that any member of staff stole or sold the donated items?
“Based on the account of events presented here, the donated items were received, documented, distributed and stored in different locations within the hospital, and were subsequently accounted for when questions were raised about their whereabouts.
“Let the Investigation Establish the Facts
“If the government has ordered an investigation into the matter, hospital staff should welcome it.
“An independent and transparent investigation should examine the inventory, photographs, store records, distribution of items, ward records and statements from the relevant personnel.
“Such an investigation would provide an opportunity not only to establish what happened but also to correct any misinformation that may have arisen from the viral video.
“The objective should not be to protect anyone who may have done wrong. Neither should it be to condemn innocent healthcare workers.
“The objective should simply be the truth.
“Umaisha General Hospital and its staff deserve accountability where necessary, but they also deserve fairness.
“Before the reputation of an entire hospital and its workforce is damaged by allegations of theft or diversion, the complete facts should be established.
“The people of Umaisha deserve better healthcare, and the healthcare workers serving them deserve both accountability and fairness”
The statement added.
