Obinna Uchendu Abakaliki
Patients at the Alex Ekwueme Federal Teaching Hospital Abakaliki, AE-FETHA have expressed sadness over the high level unprofessionalism and negligence by the Management and some staff of the teaching hospital and attributed the act to the high records of deaths witnessed in the hospital in the last 2 years.
Some of the patients who spoke to our Reporter in Abakaliki expressed the worry that the hospital which is the only teaching hospital easily accessible to the people of the State has now turned to a nightmare to patients and visitors to the hospital.
One of the patients, Mr. Cletus Okafor maintained that accessing healthcare at the teaching hospital has become a big risk and endangers the lives of the patients adding that the management has not only neglected their roles but has failed in their duty to ensure patients get prompt and quality healthcare especially at the FETHA 2.
Mr. Okafor said, some of us who remained here simply decided to do so because we can’t afford to go to private hospitals to seek better attention. There is high level of negligence and unprofessional conduct especially here at FETHA 2. Before now, when you visit the teaching hospital, you are confident of getting adequate attention but now, coming here is putting your life at risk.
There is the urgent need for the State Government and the Federal Ministry of Health to find a lasting solution to the negligence and unprofessional conduct exhibited by the management and other staff of the institution.
A concerned citizen of Ebonyi State, Ken Justice Mbamoke took to his Facebook page and also expressed sadness over what he described as the unacceptable State of Medical Care at Fetha 2 Hospital, Abakaliki, Ebonyi State.
Mr. Mbamoke wrote: “I am compelled to bring to the attention of the relevant authorities a distressing experience that has left me appalled and disheartened. Yesterday night, a friend of mine fell victim to an armed robbery along Okposhi Street, Nkaliki Road, in Ebonyi State. The robbers shot him in the leg and made off with his phone and money.
“I received a distress call around 9:30-10:00 pm to rush to Fetha 2 Hospital, where my friend had been taken for treatment. Upon arrival, I was met with a scene that left me shocked and disturbed. The hospital was overcrowded with patients who had suffered brutal injuries, yet there were no medical personnel to attend to them.
“My friend’s experience was particularly harrowing. Despite being shot, he was not attended to until after 12:00 am, when he was finally given a drip. Even then, no further treatment was administered until this morning, prompting us to take him out of the hospital to seek medical attention elsewhere.
“This unacceptable situation is a clear indication of the lack of seriousness and professionalism among some medical practitioners at Fetha Hospital. It has become apparent that to receive timely medical attention at this hospital, one must have connections or influence. This is a reprehensible state of affairs that demands immediate attention from the government and healthcare authorities.
“The government needs to take a closer look at the operations of Fetha Hospital and address the glaring inadequacies that are putting the lives of patients at risk. It is unconscionable that a government-owned hospital can be so poorly managed, with patients being left to suffer without adequate medical care.
From my interactions with hospital staff and patients, it is clear that Fetha Hospital has lost the trust and confidence of the community. It is imperative that urgent steps are taken to restore the hospital’s reputation and ensure that patients receive the quality care they deserve.
I implore the government to take immediate action to address the systemic problems plaguing Fetha Hospital. The lives of patients depend on it.
Another patient, Mrs. Ifeoma Agwu also described as unfortunate the present State of the hospital adding that the hospital now records several cases of stealing, theft loss of valuables which includes phones, laptops, bags and other items.
At both FETHA I and 2 now, there has been serious cases of theft of phones, laptops, bags and other valuables of both patients and visitors. It’s very disheartening and unfortunate that the management can’t find a lasting solution to the problem. You come to the hospital to get medical attention or to visit someone only for your phone, laptop or other valuables to get missing.
Patients and visitors items are no longer safe in the hospital. If urgent attention is not giving to the unfortunate incident, it might degenerate to people losing their newborn babies in the hospital. The management should pay more attention to the healthcare, security of patients and visitors and not so much priority to the generating money.
Government at all levels should call the management of the teaching hospital to order to put a stop to the act of negligence and unprofessional conduct.
