By: Felix Ikpotor
Management of the University of Port Harcourt Teaching Hospital, UPTH, has denied an online report that it sent nursing mothers and their newborn home from its facility due to power failure.
The hospital said patients in its paediatric units are receiving attention across all areas designated for their care and called on members of the public to discountenance the publication.
The UPTH Chief Medical Director, Prof Henry Ugboma , who made the denial in a statement issued by the hospital’s acting Public Relations Officer, Elabha Meni and sent to newsmen in Port Harcourt, admitted that the institution is having power challenge but maintained that the closure of any section of the hospital or suspension of services are weighty decisions that the hospital will communicate through appropriate channels.
The statement partly read, “The attention of the Management of the University of Port Harcourt Teaching Hospital has been drawn to a currently circulating online publication claiming that the hospital has ordered all mothers and newborns to leave the hospital due to a power blackout.
“The UPTH management wishes to set the records straight and emphatically state that there is no iota of truth in the said publication.
“The closure of any section of the hospital or suspension of services are weighty decisions that the hospital management will communicate through appropriate channels.
“The patients in our paediatric units are receiving treatment in all our appropriately designated permanent and holding arcas for their care, despite the temporal cut in public electricity supply from the distribution company and national grid.
“It has never been our practice to refer patients out without appropriate protocols, in view of our status as the apex centre of referrals for tertiary specialist care.
“We reiterate that the publication is false,” the statement said.
It added: “We advise clients and relatives to ensure accurate reportage of situations surrounding their care and seek clarification on any issues from appropriate quarters.
“We solicit your support and understanding as we strive to provide excellent tertiary level care to all our patients and satisfaction to our stakeholders”.
