Babatope Okeowo 
The Acting Chief Medical Director (CMD) of the Ondo State-owned University of Medical Sciences Teaching Hospital (UNIMEDTH), Dr Michael Gbala, has raised alarm over plans by some people to blackmail him.
Gbala, through the Public Relations Officer (PRO), Oluwatope Akinjide, said some sponsored faceless groups have hatched plans to undermine his actions and that of his office.
There have been social media reports that Gbala has been directing patients from government-owned hospital facilities to his private hospital in Ondo in Ondo West local government area of the state.
However, Gbala the attempt to blackmail him arose due to his sterling performance, which is widely acknowledged.
According to him, both the Government and the people of the state are satisfied with his managerial qualities since he assumed the role of Acting CMD six months ago.
Akinjide said “The services rendered by UNIMEDTH have been exemplary under Dr. Gbala’s stewardship. No financial recklessness has been linked to the Acting CMD.
“His unique performance is what seems to be unsettling these individuals who are using faceless groups to stop his appointment as the substantive CMD, but he will continue to perform his duties with integrity and dedication.
“It is also on record that recent reports from the Governor’s office attest to Dr. Gbala’s commendable performance. Many of his staff at the Teaching Hospital can vouch for the fact that Dr Gbala has never been involved in diverting patients to his clinic.
“Dr Gbala is a visible leader who is fully on the ground. He leads with examples and directly from the front.
“The staff and management can also testify that UNIMEDTH, Ondo has been witnessing progress and achieving great medical accomplishments in the last six months. Furthermore, those making these false allegations have been unable to provide any evidence of such action.
“It is a well-known fact that staff at the Teaching Hospital can testify that Dr Gbala has never and will never divert patients to any private clinic due to his unparalleled professionalism.
“In the last six months under Dr Gbala’s watch as the Acting CMD, Creation of new specialist clinics, creation of new clinical departments, procurement of new equipment, revitalizing the residency training in a way that created the opportunities leading to unprecedented employment of many resident doctors within the short periods, revamping of hitherto moribund units, infrastructural development, creating new collaboration with other cognate institutions, creation of internship spaces for pharmacist and physiotherapist.
” Provision of free transportation for junior staff and integration of security staff to the permanent staff role of the hospital among others. Good performance and competence should be the issues of discussion and not blackmailing.
“We are fully aware of the plot by unscrupulous elements to blackmail the Acting CMD. We appeal to the people of Ondo State to disregard any such attempts and urge the management and staff of the hospital to continue with their normal duties without distraction.”
