Zulum blows hot over diversion of hospital drugs, others

Governor Babagana Umara Zulum of Borno state has threatened to sack any doctor or medical health worker found diverting drugs or hospital equipment.

The threat also extends to doctors and medical health workers found absent from their duty posts.

Prof. Zulum issued the warning when he paid an unscheduled visit to Umaru Shehu General Hospital, Maiduguri where he said: “We are not going to tolerate anybody found diverting drugs meant for hospitals or hospital equipment as well absenteeism.

“Any medical personnel found diverting drugs or hospital equipment, no matter how highly placed, should be sacked.

``We have to do something to sanitize our system; we have to do everything to uplift the living standard of our people, nobody will do it for us.’’

He expressed dissatisfaction over the situation that the management of hospitals will not buy small things for the running of the hospital in spite of the fact that the government has 33 million dollars accessible fund lying in the NSHIP coffers.

The governor said Umaru Shehu Hospital management received N19 million NSHIP intervention monthly, lamenting, however, that it is unable to buy some minor items needed by the hospital.

He directed the Commissioner for Health, Dr. Salisu Kwayabura, and the Medical Director of the Hospital to furnish his office with all the requirement of the hospital with a view to providing them.

Responding, the Borno state commissioner for Health and Human Services, Dr. Salisu Kwayabura, told the governor that the doctor involved in the drugs diversion had already been suspended and very soon the necessary disciplinary action would be taken against him.

He also assured the governor that all the requirements of the hospital would be forwarded to his office as directed.