CMD of Asaba Specialist Hospital Speaks on Transformation Plans

Mary Nnah

Chief Medical Director of the Asaba Specialist Hospital (ASH), Dr. Peace Ighosewe, the said she is working alongside her team to transform the hospital into a world-class healthcare facility.

Ighosewe spoke via telephone on Sunday following allegations of missing medical equipment, including a laparoscopic machine at the hospital. It would be recalled that a report was circulated recently on social media by an unknown person of missing medical equipment at the hospital.

The chief medical director attributed the report to individuals threatened by the hospital’s achievements.
She said, “Most of the things we see on social media, nobody is taking responsibility for them; nobody has come out to take responsibility. What I can say is that there was a laparoscopic machine that got missing some time three years ago. The machine was locked up in the custody of someone who headed the theatre along with other obsolete and condemned equipment. Because the items stored there were not in use, the room was not opened for more than three months until I decided to fix it.
It was when we brought someone that will fix it that we discovered that it was no longer there; that is the only machine I know that is missing.”

According to Ighosewe, her five years of running the hospital has given her the opportunity to meet different people, especially some staff members who will always not want things to go well.
“We have done a lot to build that hospital to the standard where it is presently; the state government has been very supportive which we appreciate a lot.”
“Even in the midst of achievements, there are challenges; but if anybody has any allegation against me, let the person come out and report to the Commissioner for Health or the appropriate authority.”
“It is wrong going faceless on social media to malign the reputation of an individual who has put in everything to put that hospital where it is today, though not by my power, but God has helped me.”
“The hospital was nine months when I took over as CMD; it was best described as a General Hospital then; and now it is a Teaching Hospital; this happened in five years and we are still working.”

“Like I said, the only machine I know that is missing is the laparoscopic machine and when it got missing, we reported to the police and to the then Commissioner for Health, Dr Mordi Ononye.”

“The matter was investigated and communicated to the authorities and we were instructed to let the matter go; the report is in the police station for whoever wants to see it; we don’t have anything to hide,” Ighosewe said.

Further investigations also revealed that the Police Command in Delta also exonerated Ighosewe, as it confirmed that there is no ongoing investigation against the hospital or its leadership.
The SP Bright Edafe, the spokesman for the Police Command in Delta, said the story on social media was fabricated.
“The story is a fabricated one and if the allegation was real, it would have been reported and state government would have complained.”
“So, we are not investigating Ighosewe or any missing medical machine in the hospital”, Edafe said.