Groups Commend Guardian Newspaper Award-winning Journalist, Ann Godwin, on UPTH Poor Service Investigation

 

By: Awajis Josiah-Chijindu 

  Centre for Basic Rights Protection And Accountability Campaign has commended the Guardian Newspaper for its investigative report on poor service delivery to patients at the Intensive Care Unit(ICU) of  University of PortHarcourt Teaching Hospital(UPTH).

National Coordinator of the group, Comrade Prince Wiro in a statement noted that the report done by the South-South Acting Bureau Chief of the Guardian Newspaper, Mrs. Ann Godwin attracted public attention and provides succour to many patients through Rivers artist Burna Boy who has paid medical bills of many indigent patients.

Comrade Wiro described the investigation done by Mrs.Godwin as one of such cases where the media as the fourth estate of the realm embarked on its constitutional duty of holding public officers accountable for their actions.

The Centre urged UPTH as a medical  institution which is said to be custodian of Standard Medical practice in Nigeria  to investigate the complaints made by relatives of patients in the balanced and professional report by the Guardian Newspaper with a view to improving customers satisfaction in areas of quality service delivery,good hygiene in the facility rather than asking the media organization to tender a public apology on the report.

According to the group,the Management of UPTH should understand that customers complaints,customers review of service rendered and customers feedback  are critical tools needed by an institution such as UPTH to boost quality service delivery.

He implored UPTH to commend the media outfit for the report rather than criticizing the organization for doing a good job beneficial to the hospital.

The national coordinator urged the Guardian Newspaper not to relent in investigative reports that will ensure pubic office holders and institutions are held  accountable for their actions.

Similarly, the Youths and Environmental Advocacy Centre (YEAC-Nigeria) has commended the management of the Rivers State University (RSU) for the swift intervention following media reports that one of its 300 level students, Mr. Victor Tobin was assaulted and brutalized by four other students under the guise of Man O' War.

The group in a statement by the Executive Director, Fyneface Dumnamene Fyneface gave the management of the Rivers State University a part on the back for being proactive following the media report.

 The Executive Director called on the management of the University of Port Harcourt Teaching Hospital (UPTH) to borrow a leaf from the RSU by utilizing media reports that points out the issues in its fold for its internal development and improvement like the RSU.

The Guardian’s South-South Bureau Chief, Mrs. Ann Godwin who won the prestigious Wole Soyinka Centre for Investigative Journalism award in 2022, had on June 1st, revealed the nightmares and extortions going on in UPTH through her report.