Yahaya Idris in Lafia
The management of General Hospital, Umaisha, Toto Local Government Area of Nasarawa State, has called for an independent and transparent investigation into allegations concerning equipment donated to the hospital.
The call followed controversy generated by a viral video involving Hon. Ibrahim Abdullahi Sa’ad, member representing Umaisha/Ugya Constituency in the Nasarawa State House of Assembly, during a medical outreach at the facility.
The hospital management said it welcomed scrutiny but insisted that any investigation should be comprehensive enough to establish the facts surrounding the donated items.
‘Nobody Should Be Above Scrutiny’
In its statement titled “The Other Side of the Umaisha General Hospital Story: Setting the Record Straight,” the management acknowledged that allegations involving healthcare resources deserved serious attention.
The statement said: “Nobody should be above scrutiny, and every allegation involving public property deserves proper investigation.”
However, the hospital cautioned against reaching conclusions before examining relevant records and interviewing personnel directly responsible for the management of the items.
It said the investigation should cover the inventory, photographs, store records, distribution of items, ward records and statements from relevant personnel.
Items Listed
According to the hospital’s account, the items brought to the facility included 10 mattresses, approximately 32 standing and ceiling fans and solar lighting equipment.
The management clarified that the mattresses were ordinary mattresses rather than orthopaedic mattresses.
It also said the solar lighting equipment and some ceiling fans were installed by the team that donated them, while other items were stored for subsequent use.
The hospital added that some mattresses found in the facility had been donated separately by a traditional title holder in the community.
Management Defends Healthcare Workers
The hospital said the controversy had created an unfortunate impression that its workers may have stolen or sold donated equipment.
It said such an impression was particularly troubling to staff members working in a remote healthcare facility under challenging conditions.
The management maintained that the donated items were received, documented and distributed or stored at different locations within the hospital.
It added that the whereabouts of the items were subsequently clarified after questions were raised.
Truth Should Be the Objective
The hospital management said an investigation should neither be designed to protect anyone who committed wrongdoing nor to condemn workers who are innocent.
According to the statement, “The objective should simply be the truth.”
It urged the relevant authorities to conduct a thorough probe and make the findings available to the appropriate stakeholders.
The management concluded by saying that Umaisha residents deserve better healthcare and that healthcare workers serving the community deserve both accountability and fairness.