Nasarawa Lawmaker Demands Answers Over Missing Fans, Mattresses Donated To Hospital

A member of the Nasarawa State House of Assembly has demanded an explanation from the management of Umaisha General Hospital over the whereabouts of equipment and medical supplies he personally donated to the facility.

The lawmaker raised the issue during a visit to the hospital, where he questioned staff about more than 50 ceiling fans, about 40 standing fans and 50 orthopaedic mattresses he bought to improve conditions for patients and healthcare workers.

A video of the confrontation shared on Monday showed the lawmaker visibly upset as he asked hospital officials to account for the items.

“Where are they? Why are you lying to me?” the lawmaker asked.

He said the donations were purchased with his personal money to support residents who depend on the hospital for medical care.

“I bought over 50 ceiling fans, over 40 standing fans, 50 orthopaedic mattresses,” he said.

The lawmaker also questioned a doctor about the orthopaedic mattresses, recalling that he had previously been told they were still in the hospital store.

He demanded to see the mattresses and asked officials to explain their whereabouts.

“Doctor, you remember the last time I spoke with you about the orthopaedic mattresses, you remember what you told me. Why are you lying to me?” he asked.

“How can you tell me this is the mattress I bought? Can you show the mattresses I bought? I bought them for my people.”

He equally sought answers about the ceiling and standing fans, saying he had donated the items for use by the hospital and the community.

“Where are the ceiling fans? I bought more than 50 ceiling fans. Standing fans, I bought about 40. Where are they?” he asked.

The lawmaker said he was concerned that patients were still facing poor conditions despite the items he claimed to have provided.

He asked officials to take him to the wards so he could confirm whether the mattresses had been distributed to patients.

“Look at the condition of my people. You are telling me you have taken the mattresses around the wards. I said okay, take me to the wards. Where are they? Let me see them,” he said.

According to him, he had previously instructed the hospital management to return the mattresses to a particular location after being informed that they were still in storage.

“I have had a discussion with the doctor, and [he] told me that the mattresses are still in the store and I told him, please take it back to that place. Remember I told you this,” he said.

The lawmaker stressed that the donations were funded personally and intended to improve healthcare conditions for residents.

“It is my money I used to buy it for my people. Why would they be suffering? Look at the condition of the people here,” he said

A hospital staff member later explained that some of the mattresses had been given temporarily to patients who had been discharged, with an arrangement for them to be returned after two months.

“We normally give them the mattress to go home and return in two months,” the staff member overheard saying.

When asked how many mattresses had been taken home by patients, the staff member reportedly said about seven.

“I even asked them to return the mattress today,” the staff member added.

The explanation did not appear to satisfy the lawmaker, who continued to ask about the remaining mattresses and the fans.

He said hospital workers who needed mattresses could approach him, adding that he was willing to buy more because of the importance of their work in the community.

“If you the staff want it, I have capacity to buy for them. And because you are helping us in this community, I have the capacity to buy for them,” he said.

The lawmaker expressed disappointment over the alleged failure to properly account for the items, stressing that he had used his personal funds to provide them for the benefit of the people.

“Are you being fair to me? I will go and suffer. Go and look at my house in Abuja and the one in this community. I refuse to enjoy. I refuse to be happy with myself, just to make my people happy,” he said.

He again demanded information about the ceiling and standing fans, asking hospital officials to explain where the donated equipment had gone.

“Where are the ceiling fans that I bought for you? Where are the standing fans? So you just provide it to your own people. Where are they?” he asked.

At the time of filing this report, the hospital management or relevant Nasarawa State health authorities have not issued a statement regarding the allegations.

Watch the video below:

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