DELSUTH consultants allege plan to impose foreigner as CMD

• Seek Governor Okowa intervention in hospital’s comatose condition
• Students protest against non-accreditation of LASUCOM’s dentistry department

The Medical and Dental Consultants’ Association of Nigeria (MDCAN), Delta State University Teaching Hospital (DELSUTH) chapter, has raised concern on an alleged plan by the state government to impose a foreign medical consultant as the substantive Chief Medical Director (CMD) of the hospital.

While the Association sought the intervention of Governor Ifeanyi Okowa to save the Hospital from its comatose condition in a statement signed by its chairman, Dr. Y.O. Obiabo.

A copy made available to our reporter, noted: “Arising from any emergency meeting held recently, precisely August 17, 2016, to deliberate on issues concerning the general decay of the apex state hospital and the need to put an end to the situation of decolonization, alleged apartheid and impunity against her members, as well as halting the wasteful government spending on Diaspora personnel project of questionable value.

Meanwhile, some medical students of the Lagos State University College of Medicine (LASUCOM) yesterday protested to the Lagos Government House over the non-accreditation of dentistry in the institution, pleading with the State Governor, Akinwunmi Ambode, to immediately call for the release of the fund he approved for the accreditation of their course.

They said they had spent nine years in school and not wishing to spend more years for a six years course.

The students, who chanted various solidarity songs, had different fliers with inscriptions like: “Democracy should not deny us military benefits”; Our action governor should save our future”; Our parents are frustrated, they think we have failed”; “Nine years is enough, release the fund”; “the best governor in Nigeria, please waive all the protocol”.

The students led by Fabian Adili, said that they ought to have graduated about three years ago, especially the pioneer 14 students of the dentistry unit of the College of Medicine, but due to non-accreditation, they have been kept back in school while there other colleagues in other units graduated.

He said that they were frustrated into protesting because they are on the verge of spending the tenth year as there is a dilly-dally on the fund meant for their accreditation. According to him, if something is not done to get the fund on time for the accreditation, the school partial accreditation it enjoys at present would be denied, which means they may even spend more than ten years. He said it was the reasons their juniors in the department joined them to cry out because they too are being affected.

They initially rejected all pleas to be addressed by a functionary of the state government insisting it must be the governor that should address them. They later listened to the Commissioner for Health, Jide Idris, but when he failed to provide a definite date when the fund approved by the governor meant for the accreditation of their course would be released, the students burst into solidarity songs again, backed up by a deejay who was dishing out songs of oppression and neglect. They therefore insisted that they want to see they governor because he has the powers to grant the waiver for the quick release of their fund.

Meanwhile, in a swift reaction, the Delta state commissioner for health, Dr. Nicholas Azinge confirmed that the letter addressed to the Governor was referred to him, adding the issues raised by the Association were being looked into with a view to ensuring peace reign among the consultants.

On the alleged comatose of the hospital, Dr. Azinge explained that the state government was committed to the provision of good health care system to Deltans, adding that efforts were being made to upgrade the facilities of the teaching hospital.

Alleging that the huge amount of funds the foreign consultants earn was enough to develop the teaching hospital further, the Association urged the state government without delay to terminate their appointments and channel the money to review the hospital.