UPTH in bad shape, COVID-19 machines not donated by FG – Wike 

Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike, has said the much-touted University of Port Harcourt Teaching Hospital, UPTH, is in a bad shape, unfit for quality healthcare.

The governor, who spoke when he appeared as a guest on a radio Programme in Port Harcourt, also dismissed report that the COVID-19 testing machine at UPTH was donated by the federal government.

Wike was reacting to questions about his failure to participate in the Commissioning of the Isolation, testing and treatment centre established at UPTH

The Governor denied being invited for the launching of the COVID-19 treatment centre, adding that the equipment was donated by Shell Petroleum Development Company who also tried to dictate where the machine should be situated.

According to Wike, “I don’t think you have been to the University of Port Harcourt Teaching Hospital. If you have anybody that is sick you can’t take the person there because it is so bad that you can’t even touch the walls of the hospital.

“My Father-in-Law was there. When I went to see him there I shouted that what is he doing there. I could not even touch the walls. Then, someone is asking what I have done for UPTH. I don’t need to do anything for Teaching Hospital.

“And that is the same CMD of UPTH that is we are arresting people who do not support our government, that we are quarantining those who are not in support of the Rivers state government. What sort of lie is that? This was the same Chief Medical Director that somebody brought to me that I should make him a Commissioner that I said no. Then he now ran away and supported the other party.

“In any case, there was no time I was invited for any programme.”

Speaking on the collaboration with the federal government in the fight against COVID-19 in the state, Governor Wike said he has done the best he could to work with them but to no avail.