Imo Workers Turn Hospital Into Prayer Ground

Striking workers of Federal Medical Centre, Owerri have turned the
centre into a prayer ministry and deliverance ground in spite of a
standing instruction that the workers should go back to work.

Employees of the hospital, clad in black attire, now meet under the
dogoyaro tree (within the hospital premises) to sing and call on God
to intervene in their matter and sanitize the management of the health
institution.

The employees have maintained they will not back to their duty posts
until the Medical Director, Dr. Angela Uwakwem, is removed.

It was gathered that the trouble started when the management of the
hospital, led by Dr. Angela Uwakwem, introduced the Private-Public-
Partnership policy in the hospital.

Some of the workers told Southern City News that the policy was aimed
at sacking some of the workers and paving the way for others to take
over their jobs.

They said, "We have been working here for years and have passed
through many managements. They (past managements) were friendly with
us, having cordial working relationships with the staff. But Uwakwem's
administrative style is anti-the poor workers."

The daily demonstration, which featured a mock casket by workers,
started with fasting and prayers about three weeks back.

It was learnt that the managing director of the hospital had been
operating from the outside the health institution, a development that
made some of the aggrieved workers to conclude that she was on the
run.

A nurse (names withheld) said, "My dear journalist, God is really
using our colleagues to perform signs and wonders here in FMC.
"I think God is using the present challenges we are facing to bring
out their innate talents and gifts, which have not been made manifest
by any worker before this crisis."

She said they decided to go spiritual in the strike tagged 'Angela
Must Go' because of a revelation that occultic sacrifices were carried
out within the premises of the hospital.

Another source told Southern City News that since the workers started
fasting and prayers, God had used some colleagues to dig out some of
the charms buried in the FMC precinct.

"We positioned ourselves and planned our activities as to accommodate
many items. Workers among us have in their great numbers come out to
testify to what have been revealed to them in the spirit," she added.

However, in a swift reaction, the Medical Director dismissed the claim
that she operated from outside the office, saying, "I come to work
every day and I discharge my duties accordingly."

She disclosed to Punch correspondent on the phone that the Federal
Ministry of Health controlling FMC Owerri had told the workers to
sheathe their swords and go back to work.
Uwakwem also disclosed that the Federal Ministry of Health had said
that they would set up a committee to find out the immediate and
remote causes of the impasse.

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