The governor gave the directive when he received the parents and guardians of members of the Concerned Sickle Cell Sufferers Club at Government House in Benin City, according to a statement by his Special Adviser, Mr. Godwin Obaseki, on Tuesday.
According to the statement, the Commissioner for Health, Dr. David Osifo, accused Iyawe of indulging some patients at the centre in the abuse of pentazocine – a painkiller used to treat moderate to severe pain.
Osifo stated, “There are alternatives to this drug in managing their condition. I have tried to meet with the patients, but they have been hostile because they feel that we are depriving them of medication.
“I was at the Sickle Cell Centre recently and ordered the closure of a consulting room after it was discovered that Iyawe was attending to patients, even when the hospital management did not approve such.
“But he threatened that no one could sack him except the governor or the Oba of Benin. He has written several petitions and fought a lot of people, including the immediate past governor (Adams Oshiomhole) on this matter.”
Although Iyawe could not be reached for comments as of 7pm on Tuesday, when filing this story, the Chairman of the sickle cell centre, Mr. Charles Edigin, condemned the decision of the state government.
Edigin accused the government of victimising the doctor for having complained about the poor welfare condition and management of the clinic.
He said, “We have had issues with the management of the centre over welfare and in the light of that, the governor invited us to a meeting at the Government House.
“We were, however, taken aback when the governor started lampooning us and ordered the arrest of Iyawe. Of course, we resisted the arrest when security (operatives) wanted to effect it. The security persons later told Iyawe to go and never step his feet in the sickle cell centre again.”
In another development, the Edo State Government approved the sum of N25 million as funding for the centre after the meeting.
Obaseki explained that the intervention was aimed at revamping the centre and improving its services.
He also stated that facilities at the centre would be upgraded while adequate manpower would be provided to run the centre professionally.
Obaseki said, “Government is very sympathetic to the well-being of the sufferers and this is why we have released N25 million intervention fund to revamp the facility.”
