Lafia hospital sacks staff for financial, other misconducts

The management of Dalhatu Araf Specialist Hospital Lafia (DASH), Nasarawa State has sanctioned 10 of its staff said to be involved in financial and other misconducts. Chief Medical Director (CMD) of the hospital, Dr Hassan Ikrama, said in Lafia that the affected staff were dismissed for various offences including theft, diversion of funds and sabotage […]

The management of Dalhatu Araf Specialist Hospital Lafia (DASH), Nasarawa State has sanctioned 10 of its staff said to be involved in financial and other misconducts.

Chief Medical Director (CMD) of the hospital, Dr Hassan Ikrama, said in Lafia that the affected staff were dismissed for various offences including theft, diversion of funds and sabotage within one year of his assuming office as CMD.

“Some of them were engaged in stealing donated blood from the blood-bank and selling same to private hospitals or individuals, and diverting funds meant for the hospital.”

Dr. Ikrima also said some of the affected staff were using the facilities of the hospital to carry out investigations in the laboratory and divert the proceeds for personal use.

He added that some of the staff that were dismissed or suspended were found culpable by the disciplinary committee.

He said when he was appointed CMD of the hospital, he discovered that there were leakages in almost every department as instead of the internally generated revenue of the hospital to improve, it was dwindling, because of the financial diversions that was ongoing then.

‘‘Prior to my appointment, the hospital was lacking in so many ways that led to series of referrals to hospitals like Federal Medical Centre, Keffi, National Hospital, Abuja and Jos University Teaching Hospital, but we have surmounted those challenges by improved accommodation facilities for the over 40 consultants on ground and also running centralised clinical services on daily basis,” the CMD said.

He added that they have increased the number of theaters to three, ultrasound machines from 1 to 8,  new digital x-ray machines, employed more doctors , nurses, pharmacists, and laboratory scientists.

He assured the people of the state and environs, that the management of the hospital is poised to ensuring better healthcare service delivery.