The attention of the Management of the National Hospital, Abuja has been drawn to a publication captioned "My ordeal, by National Hospital staff", which appeared on Page 20 of the Daily Sun edition of 14th April, 2008.

It is unfortunate that Daily Sun which is increasing in popularity can publish such story without facts and doing so in such a manner as if the reporter was on a mission of vendetta.

To put the record straight, this rejoinder has become imperative.
Staff Nurse Doris Ihuoma joined the service of the Hospital as Nursing Officer II (NOlI) on 15th February 2005.

At first she appeared like any normal staff until she began to exhibit traits and characteristics of psychological disorder. Worried by this development and in the interest of her health and wellbeing, the Management of this Hospital took steps to avert possible total breakdown of her state of health by:

a) Arranging for her counselling to ascertain her state of mind,
c) Retaining her on duty for close monitoring.
Although the report of the Psychiatrist confirmed our concerns, all our efforts were unfortunately misinterpreted by Miss Ihuoma who saw them as an invasion of her privacy, attack on her fundamental human right, subjugation, humiliation and mental torture etc.

For the records, the allegation that she was invited to the office of the Chief Medical Director and attempt made to inject her with already drawn syringes containing unknown substance is completely false. It was a counseling session witnessed by some principal officers of the Hospital and not an isolated contact with the Chief Medical Director as reported.

What followed this effort was a flurry of letters of petition written by Miss Ihuoma to Mr.President, Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Head of Civil Service of the Federation (HOCSF), the Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria and copied to the Inspector-General of Police (IGP), the Director-General of State Security Services (SSS) alleging that her life was in danger/threatened by the Chief Medical Director and the management team of the Hospital. Various Law Enforcement Agencies have already investigated her allegations.

The Hospital Management had also met with Miss Ihuoma's relatives with a view to finding medical solution to her situation. It was agreed that she could be taken to any other professional psychiatrist for a second opinion. The report she presented from Federal Medical Centre, Owerri to this effect is, however, not conclusive.

The above notwithstanding, the Management of the Hospital had allowed her to continue to work on the basis of the report from FMC, Owerri, until it was discovered that when on duty, she was no longer administering drugs to her patients as at when due.

Worried by this development, in the interest of her patient, her own safety and well-being and that of her colleagues, she was released from official duties pending her appearance before a medical board.
Since the Hospital Board has been dissolved, a report to this effect was made to the office of the SGF and the matter was subsequently forwarded to the Medical Board of the Federal Ministry of Health which is the body charged with the responsibility of conducting medical examination on serving Federal public servants. This body invited Miss Ihuoma for medical examination on Thursday, 20th March 2008 at the Federal Ministry of Health, Federal Secretariat Phase III, Abuja. Unfortunately she declined the invitation, insisting that she was physically and mentally well.

The allegation of public announcement of her illness on the hospital Public Address System (PAS), and warning staff and patients to stay away from her, are all imaginary stories and there is no substance in them whatsoever.

Also, the allegation that the Head of Human Resource Management wrote to her, part of which was quoted as "As you can observe that the Management has gotten the supports of men of Police force both in uniform and plain dresses all over National Hospital, Abuja, to purposely arrest you when you are seen around/close to the Hospital premises and that injection you had earlier refused to collect, the Management will be forced to commence treatments on you in the first instance" is completely false as no such letter emanated from this hospital.

It is expected that The Sun Newspaper would have followed the lead that Miss Ihuoma had written similar letter to the Police, the SSS, the SGF etc to ascertain the facts or consulted the appropriate officers of the hospital before publishing the story, except it has planned to create an unwarranted sensation with a view to misinforming the general public.

Finally, the position of this hospital on Miss Ihuoma is that she needs urgent medical attention, a matter that is presently before the Federal Medical Board of the Federal Ministry of Health. The management shall abide with their findings and recommendations when these are ready. It should be noted also that management has continued to pay the salaries and allowances of Miss Ihuoma in full, despite her allegation of victimisation.

The National Hospital, Abuja has over 1,200 members of staff. There are also staff of private companies providing out-sourced non-clinical support services. In our pursuit to serve humanity, we work together as one big family. The idea of subjecting our staff or anybody to any ordeal is not part of our dreams.

Signed.
Mal. Yahaya Ozi Sadiq,.
Asst. Director of Admin (Inform. Services)
For Chief Medical Director/CEO.