The Delta State House of Assembly Committee on Health, has ordered the Hospital Management Board (HMB), to put the Intensive Care Unit (ICU), donated by a public spirited individual, Pastor Chuks Agidigbo to the Central Hospital, Kwale, into immediate use.
The law makers gave the order when they paid an inspection visit to the hospital as part of their oversight functions.
The Chairman of the House Committee on Health, Ferguson Onwo, frowned at the non-use of the ICU one year after Governor Sheriff Oborevwori received it from the donor.
He said, “all of us who are members of this committee were surprised when we heard that such an important facility, which was donated by a public-spirited individual, Pastor Chuks Agidigbo, has not been put into use, one year after it was received by our Governor, Rt. Hon. Sheriff Oborevwori.
“We are all aware that government cannot do it alone, which is why we welcomed this development.
‘If it is put into use, it will encourage others with similar intentions to make donations to government, and this particular facility was donated to save the lives of our people.
“We are not happy as a committee that the place is not in use; you can partner with people and organizations to make it work.
“It is better to start than not to start at all; go ahead and get people to man the place and let us know if there are challenges, but don’t just leave this important facility idle.
“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.
“We thank the donor, Pastor Chuks Agidigbo, he should not rest on his oars; if he also has experts to man the facility, we will work out modalities for partnership, but let this facility be put to use, as it 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.”
The Chief Medical Director of the Hospital Management Board, Dr. Afinota Lawrence, who took members of the committee on a tour of the facility, said that the HMB lacked personnel to put the Intensive Care Unit into full use.
Among the members of the House Committee on Health who visited the hospital were Mathew Omonade, Festus Utuama, Odior Bernard, and Perkins Umukoro.
