By Victor Madumere & Okey Alozie
The current rift between the Dr Angela Uwakwe-led administration of the Federal Medical Centre (FMC), Owerri and the staff unions of the medical centre which crippled activities in the health institution for weeks now has taken another dimension as the staffers have gone spiritual.
The management is alleged to have stepped-down or cancelled the proposed Private Partnership Projects (PPP) in the management of the medical centre to comply with the yearning of the staff unions and their members. The staff are not relenting on their call for the immediate sack of the Medical Director (MD), Dr (Mrs) Angela Uwakwem by the federal government.
According to a nurse, (surname withheld), the entire staff decided to seek spiritual intervention on the call for Dr Uwakwem’s sack following an alleged compromise by the board and other authorities over the issue. She went further to disclose that no matter how long it took, the staff had agreed not to work under the current MD.
Consequently, the aggrieved staff have embarked on over a week-long fasting and prayer procession to seek divine intervention for the sack of Dr Uwakwem. In proving the severity of the collective quest, the staff assembled at the main gate of the hospital every morning dressed in mourning attires (black) where they commence their procession with prayers.
The processions have so far taken them to different parts of the capital city, including the government house and other notable places where they will be heard.
Speaking to Trumpeta reporter, one of the union leaders expressed disappointment over the politics the Board is playing with the paralysed medical service and activities at the FMC at the expense of human lives. He stated that there is no going back unless a new MD is appointed for FMC Owerri, as Dr Uwakwem had overstayed her welcome.
It will be recalled that the problem in FMC erupted with the planned handover of most of the departments in the institution to private partners by the management, an arrangement that did not go down well with the workers’ unions.
Meanwhile the Medical Director, Mrs Uwakwe who is alleged to be at the centre of the whole problem was said to have escaped mob action by demonstrating staff who want her out. Her vehicle’s tyres were deflated and her office locked according to reports.
The aggrieved staff said the MD has rendered the place useless with her wicked acts. “She is an American trained Director and she must go!” The agitating demonstrators explained.
The demonstrating workers comprising of mostly junior workers resolved to move round the wards last Friday to convince the medical chiefs and consultants to join them in their action against the MD who they said is now on the run.
Consequently, Imo Health ministry has set up a committee to monitor the FMC crisis. Information from the ministry revealed that the committee has swung into action and already begun an unscheduled inspection tour to the various departments of the medical centre and other hospitals around to examine and ascertain the level of productivity in providing adequate healthcare services to Imolites.
The permanent secretary, Ministry of Health, Dr Johnny Iheberenie disclosed that the unscheduled visit was aimed at monitoring staff and management and to ensure that they render services to the people.
Our source revealed that there is no single patient at the FMC, Owerri as at the time of this report. Concerned citizens of the state are now calling on the federal government to declare a state of emergency at the medical centre before the current crisis worsens.
Our reporter further gathered that since three weeks now, the place has been unproductive.
Workers only come to the place in black attire to chant war songs.
