More victims are now speaking out after a newspaper report exposed how patients and the relatives of patients are allegedly exploited at the University of Port Harcourt Teaching Hospital (UPTH).
Others complained that their sick relatives did not receive proper care at the facility before they died. A journalist who lost her brother in 2021 have the hospital alleged that it was due to negligence. Claris who narrated the story to our reporter said her late brother was knocked down by a car and was admitted to the University of Port Harcourt Teaching Hospital but no care was administered until he bled to death. She revealed that then when they were admitted, the place was like a market place, very hot, dirty, noisy and the environment was very bushy.
“the environment will be enough to kill a human being not to talk of a sick person. Medical personnel are suppose to be filled with milk of kindness but it is not so in UPTH. Since then, I have no regard for that hospital”.
Another respondent who pleaded anonymity narrated her ordeal at the UPTH. She said her experience was very heart broken. That her husband was admitted in the hospital,from emergency to Intensive Care Unit (ICU), proper care was not given, he was neglected and when he eventually died, the hospital was only interested in the payment of charges.
” The doctors and nurses does not have concern for the sick person, what they were concerned about was the left overs. Immediately he died, they colleted everything, both oxygen, drip, and expensive drugs that I bought, and when I asked, they just told me stories”.
In the mean time, the management of the University of Port Harcourt Teaching Hospital (UPTH) has denied all the allegations. A statement by the Hospital Acting Public Relations Officer Elabha Meni appealed to all clients to use existing internal mechanism for the resolution of any genuine or perceived service failures. The UPTH Public Relation Officer assured the public that the hospital management will take appropriate disciplinary measures against any member or staff who violates the hospital and public service policy. The UPTH also assured patients of it’s commitment to providing quality and cost effective care service to the population.
