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FEBRUARY 19, 2007 VOL. 20. NO 19

Death for a Doctor

**Sunday Ehindero, Inspector General of Police**

The obvious assassination of a top medical doctor at the Federal Medical Centre, (FMC), Owerri, throws the health institution into a quandary
By Eugenia Okpara, Owerri
Uneasy calm now pervades the Federal Medical Centre (FMC), Owerri following the assassination, by unknown persons, of the Head of Department, Family Medicine and Director of Post Graduate Studies, Dr. Godfrey Ikechukwu Duruewuru, less than a week after he resigned as acting head, Clinical Services.
The deceased had in a letter addressed to the Acting Medical Director, Federal Medical Centre (FMC), Owerri and dated January 26, 2007 informed the Ag. MD, Dr. Florence U Nkwuogu, that he was resigning from his position as the Acting Head, Clinical Services since it was neither ratified nor recognised by the Board of FMC.
Part of the letter read: “I hereby forward my letter of resignation as your Acting Head of Clinical Services—a post you conferred on me on the 5th October, 2006. As you well know, this post was neither recognised nor ratified by the Board of Federal Medical Centre, Owerri. The Board described it as an internal arrangement between you and me. This, notwithstanding, I have performed the duty to the best of my ability since that 5th October, 2006 in order to ensure that the hospital is moved forward”.
The late Consultant Physician reminded the Medical Director that he had performed the duty of Head Clinical Services for about one month before her letter conveying the appointment came, pointing out that the work load has affected his duties as the Head, Family Medicine and the Director of Post Graduate Studies which suffered some neglect.
“You will also recall that I have performed this duty for about one month before your letter of appointment to me. I have tried my best but the work load on me is not only too much but my statutory functions as the Head of Department of Family Medicine and the Director of Postgraduate studies have suffered some neglect”, the letter read in part.
Duruewuru lamented that he was an intruder, adding that God answered his prayer and the Chief Medical Director, Chukwuma Oliver Ohadugha, came back from his medical treatment abroad more than three weeks ago.
Part of the letter read: “The Board is not helping matters by treating me as a leper instead of commendation. You will recall that on two occasions during their meetings (which you invited me to participate), I was literally walked out. Luckily, God, the Almighty heard our prayers. Our Medical Director came back from overseas’ medical treatment more than three weeks ago. I don’t know if you have handed over the affairs of the hospital back to him. Whether you have or not handed over, I wish to thank you for the confidence reposed on me and for the opportunity to serve”.
He stated further: “I wish to concentrate and continue my duties as the Head of Department of Family Medicine and Director of Postgraduate Studies. My resignation as your Acting Head of Clinical Services takes effect as from the close of work today –this 26th day of January, 2007. Thanks once again for offering me the opportunity to serve.”
The resignation letter was copied to the Chairman, Board of Federal Medical Centre, Owerri, the Medical Director, Dr. Ohadugha, Head of Administrative Service (HAS), the Head of Department, NSD, the Chairman, Medical and Dental Consultants Association of Nigeria (MDCAN), Dr. Egejuru, the Chairman, National Association of Resident Doctors (NARD), Dr. Chibuike Ejim and the Chairman, Hospital Workers’ Welfare, Ekeoma Eke.
However, information available to The Source revealed that the resignation may not be unconnected with the power tussle that had polarised the hospital, with the Board headed by Chief Livinus Ezeuwa from Ebonyi State, allegedly working with Nkwuogu against the substantive Chief Medical Director (CMD), Dr. Ohadugha.
This alleged backing of the Acting Medical Director by the Board was said to have emboldened her to refuse to hand over to the CMD who handed over the affairs of the hospital to her as the second-in- command in October 2006 when he was alleged to have become paralysed on entering his office, and so had to be flown overseas for treatment.
The Acting Medical Director was alleged to have refused to hand over the management of the affairs of the hospital to the CMD who returned from medical treatment since January and had resumed work, insisting that her stand is being backed by the Board.
But it is alleged that her reason for not handing over to the CMD was because of an upcoming promotion interview exercise which she is said to be highly interested in handling due to some candidates.
The Source reliably gathered that this stance of the Acting CMD to hold tight to the position did not go down well with the deceased, who allegedly told her he was not interested in being the second-in- command hence his resignation last January.
Information has it that within the period that the CMD was absent between October 2006 and January when he resumed office, the Board was said to have employed about 600 staffers, with 100 of them not qualified for the job for which they were engaged. The CMD, on returning did not take the action kindly, The Source learnt, and allegedly told the people affected that if they gave anybody money for the employment they should demand for their money because they are not qualified to be engaged by the centre.
Another cancerous problem in the hospital is the issue of three Nurses employed in 2002 and placed as Nursing Officers, rather than as Staff Nurses which is the norm for beginners. Within a short period of time, however they were instead issued letters, promoting them to Senior Nursing Officer (SNO) without any interview – an action which generated protests from staff.
The protest drew the attention of the CMD to the problem and he was said to have called the Head of Administration Services, telling her point blank that he did not support her actions before he travelled.
Duruewuru, the head of Family Medicine was reported murdered in his private residence at Orji, near Owerri by four gunmen who allegedly scaled the perimeter fence of his compound and forced themselves into his house whereupon they shot him before fleeing after collecting two mobile telephone handsets from his children present at the scene.
This development badly jolted the staffers of the Federal Medical Centre, Owerri on Thursday, February 1, 2007, when reports filtered into the medical institution that Duruewuru, who held a meeting with the National Association of Resident Doctors (NARD)and Medical and Dental Consultants Association of Nigeria (MDCAN), on Wednesday morning was murdered the previous night.
The deceased Consultant Physician hails from Atta in Njaba Local Government Area of Imo State.