The accident and emergency department of the University of Portharcourt Teaching Hospital (UPTH) has long been considered a death trap, as most patients who seek emergency medical attention are almost sure to not survive as observed, perhaps owing to certain unnecessary administrative bureaucratization, cumbersome requirements and conditions for access to medical attention as well as the very lengthy distance (over 100 meters) between the resuscitation unit of the A&E department and the Haematology Unit/Laboratory even when it is very established that most patients rushed to the accident and emergency department are bound to require the services of the haematology/laboratory unit. Other issues identified include apathetic attitude of service staff to emergency cases which leads to avoidable and unwarranted delays in service which accounts for most death, poor organisation and high cost of service. And this has to STOP forthwith especially since the high level of fatality and casualty recorded may be greatly controlled or even avoided if the management of the hospital amongst other actions relocate without much ado and establish proximity between the resuscitation unit, haematology /laboratory unit, payment unit and encourage their staff to respond quickly to emergency situations so as to reduce the death toll in the hospital.

The irony is that the UPTH has one of the best medical expertise and specialty base in the whole of the Niger Delta region and Nigeria at large and this makes it even more difficult to understand why the helplessness and "lack even in the midst of plenty".

Following this, 1 million signatures would be required to raise the necessary awareness on subject matter and as well draw the attention of the management of the hospital, the federal government as well as other authorities concerned.

SAVE LIVES IN UPTH TODAY!!!

God bless NIGERIA!