UPTH Seeks NUJ Partnership on Health Reporting

The management of the University of Port Harcourt Teaching Hospital (UPTH) has called on journalists in the state to partner in promoting the health insurance scheme to ensure the provision of quality healthcare services for all.

This appeal was made during a courtesy visit to the Rivers State Chapter of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) by the hospital's management team, led by the Chief Medical Director, Prof. Henry Ugboma, represented by the Chairman of the Medical Advisory Committee, Prof. Datonye Alasia.

Prof. Alasia addressed recent media reports, particularly a publication in The Guardian dated June 1, 2024, titled “At UPTH's ICU Horror: Nightmare as Caregivers Exploit Sick, Dying Patients.” He stated that much of the information in the publication misrepresented the actual conditions in UPTH’s ICU. He emphasized that oxygen consumption by patients depends on the severity of their illnesses and stressed the importance of verifying information, especially concerning healthcare delivery.

Concerned that significant healthcare breakthroughs at UPTH are often overlooked by the media, Prof. Alasia called for a retraction of the publication, citing that it contained unverified and inaccurate information, thus portraying the hospital negatively.

In response, Stanley Job Stanley, Chairman of the Rivers State NUJ, clarified that the intention of The Guardian’s correspondent was not to undermine UPTH but to highlight areas needing attention. He assured that future medical breakthroughs at UPTH would receive appropriate media coverage and urged medical personnel to treat patients and their families with empathy.

The UPTH delegation included Prof. Datonye Alasia (Chairman, Medical Advisory Committee), Prof. Altride (Deputy Chairman, Medical Advisory Committee, Training), Prof. Tamunopriye Jaja (Deputy Chairman, Medical Advisory Committee, Advancement, Special Projects & Linkages), and Public Relations Officer Meni Elabha.

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