The Chief Medical Director of the Asaba Specialist Hospital in Delta State, Dr. Peace Ighosewe, has denied knowledge of the missing N100 million laboratory equipment at the hospital, and has challenging her accusers to prove their allegations.
Ighosewe, who disclosed this in an interview today, said she has worked tirelessly to ensure the facility becomes a centre of medical excellence, declaring that the facility has been upgraded to a teaching hospital, barely six years after its establishment.
She said “I have worked hard and put my best into this hospital, and today, the hospital has been upgraded to a teaching hospital. So, for someone to accuse me of a missing machine is unfair.
“As I speak to you now, I have bought several machines, including a mammogram machine, a well-equipped laboratory, state-of-the-art equipment and several others, through our internally generated revenue.
“I don’t know why they are accusing me of stealing a laparoscopy machine, which never worked. I felt it was time for me to respond to these allegations made around social media.
“The rumors that I was involved in the alleged disappearance of the machine from the hospital occurred sometime between the end of 2022 and the beginning of 2023. The laparoscopy machine never worked, when I took over as medical director nine months after the establishment of the hospital.
“Several efforts I made to bring in engineers to fix the equipment never yielded any positive results. I brought several engineers from different places, but it never worked. Eventually, it was in the theatre and packed in a room that was not often in use.”
The chief medical director maintained that when she later brought another engineer to try to repair the machine, it was discovered missing, noting that they looked for it in the theatre and everywhere but could not find it.
“As civil servants, the proper thing was to inform the state Ministry of Health and the police, which we did, and the police concluded their investigation and gave their report.
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“Three persons were to be prosecuted over the missing machine, but the immediate past Commissioner for Health, Dr. Mordi Onoye, said the matter should be laid to rest because the evidence was not substantial enough to prosecute them.
“After that, there has been no other machine missing in the hospital. I have been hearing that the laboratory machine was missing and that l used my in-law to steal the machine. I really wish that people making these accusations would come forth and say these are the equipment; don’t be faceless.
“I am actually interested; there is no sacred cow, whether you are my relation or not; if you are guilty, you will pay the price. The police never mentioned my name as being involved in any way,” she added.
Ighosewe challenged those accusing her of complicity in the missing laparoscopy to present their evidence and not remain faceless.
