By Dave Ukah
Staff of David Umahi Federal University Teaching Hospital, Uburu, Ebonyi State has passed vote of Confidence on the Chief Medical Director, Professor Mrs Uzoma Agwu .
The members of the staff under the aegis of DUFUTH Staff Welfare Association who passed the vote of confidence in a solidarity March at Uburu, Ohaozara Council area commended her proven track records in hospital management, integrity and genuine commitment to public service.
The solidarity march took the staff round the premises, chanting songs and bearing placards with various inscriptions expressing their support for the CMD.
They were protesting against what they described as unjust treatment, wild and misguided allegations by some group against the CMD.
In a communique which was read by the publicity secretary of the Staff Welfare Association Jideofor Ibekwe described the earlier protest as both unwarranted and baseless.
It maintained that the earlier protest was a pre-conceived can of falsehood by the organisers to cast aspersion on the hardworking CMD who they said has spent days and nights within the hospital to nurture the institution from cradle since 2022.
Part of the communique read: "The DUFUTH Staff Welfare Association, representing all staff engaged at the hospital, is shocked and dismayed by the unwarranted protests held on Monday, 24th March 2025 and the baseless allegations being circulated by the demonstrators and therefore wishes to state as follows:
"That we frown at the allegations of criminal repurposing of facilities, and the ridiculous claims of removal of beds, foams, medications and generators from the teaching hospital, as well as of corruption and abuse of office, leveled against the CMD.
"There is no evidence to support this claim, either in picture, print or video and we challenge the accusers to prove us wrong with counter evidence.
"We wish to tell the world that since the inception of DUFUTH, the hospital has been guided by regulations, conventions, extant rules and approved laws guiding the conduct of federal teaching hospitals under the tutelage of our parent Ministry, the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare and the Office of the Head of Civil Service of the Federation, while also consistently demonstrating readiness for clinical training of DUFUHS students with various batches of 300 level students already undergoing/completed training.
"That the demonstrators and their lackeys overreached themselves and showed lack of exposure and enlightenment by unilaterally ordering a sitting CMD appointed by the Presidency to immediately vacate her office and evacuate all her belongings from the hospital , without recourse to proper channels of routing petitions and grievances.
"That we strongly oppose the calls for the removal of the incumbent Chief Medical Director of DUFUTH, Professor Uzoma Agwu as the allegations against her is unsubstantiated and lacks merit."
The communique also condemned in strong terms some oppositions against the ongoing staff recruitment exercise in the hospital describing it as a total lack of love for the growth of the health institution which is currently short staffed.
It also condemned certain unguided onslaught on the hospital from some quarters, maintaining that such actions demonstrate gross negligence of the welfare of patients which the hospital strives day and night to uphold.
"That we strongly condemn the blockade mounted by the protesters on Monday 24th March, 2024 which demonstrated an alarming lack of empathy and concern for patients seeking medical attention.
"The blockade not only disrupted essential healthcare services but also prevented patients with emergency cases, their relations and caregivers from accessing the hospital.
"That we are deeply concerned by the protesters’ demand to cancel the forthcoming recruitment exercise at DUFUTH, particularly as the local community stands to benefit significantly from the employment.
"Furthermore, the hospital is in dire need of additional staff to bolster its workforce, and cancelling the recruitment exercise would only exacerbate the existing staffing shortages.
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