By Nathaniel Zacchaeus and Ben Adoga, Abuja
The Senate yesterday sought a probe into the death of Greatness Olorunfemi, a victim of notorious ‘one-chance’ robbers in the Abuja metropolis.
Olorunfemi was a community developer and member of the Young African Leaders Initiative Network (YALI).
He died at the Maitama General Hospital after she was allegedly denied treatment for not providing a police report.
She was said to have been pushed out of a fast-moving vehicle along the Maitama-Kubwa highway on September 26, 2023, by notorious ‘one-chance’ operators who had reportedly robbed her.
This came as the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) yesterday vowed to investigate deaths across the FCT hospitals in the FCT.
The Senate passed the resolution following a motion by Senator Asuquo Ekpenyong (Cross River South).
The red chamber summoned the Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, and Ministers of Health and FCT, Ali Pate and Nyesom Wike respectively over the issue.
It also directed its committees on Health and Police Affairs to invite the doctor who allegedly refused the victim treatment.
It also urged the relevant authorities to sensitise hospitals and health centres nationwide to ensure compliance with the Gunshot Act.
Ekpenyong, in his motion, said the action of the hospital was contrary to the Compulsory Treatment and Care for Victims of Gunshot Act of 2017.
The law gives victims of gunshots and other emergencies the right to treatment.
The law also states that every hospital in Nigeria, both public and private, shall accept or receive, for immediate and adequate treatment with or without police clearance, any person with a gunshot wound.
The Act further states that no gunshot victim shall be refused immediate and adequate treatment whether or not an initial monetary deposit has been paid.
Section 13 of the Act slams a fine of N50, 000 or five years imprisonment or both on any offender.
Ekpenyong, who lamented the lack of enforcement and compliance with the Act, called for a review of the law to provide for stiffer penalties.
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*As FCTA constitutes panel to investigate deaths across Abuja hospitals
Meanwhile, the FCTA has vowed to investigate deaths across the FCT hospitals.
The promise is coming in the wake of the recent death of a resident, Greatness Olorunfemi, who allegedly died after she was stabbed and thrown out of a moving cab.
Viral social media reports had claimed that the deceased, Greatness Olorunfemi, died on 26th September 2023 after she was allegedly rejected at the Maitama General Hospital where she was rushed in for treatment.
However, speaking during the inauguration of a nine-man ‘Investigative Panel’ on the alleged death of Greatness Olorunfemi in Maitama District Hospital, the secretary expressed confidence that the findings of the panel will go a long way in charting the means of improving and achieving efficient health care delivery in the territory.
She explained that the administration explored the legal framework for establishing an independent and investigative panel.
“The process of appointing and constituting a nine-person panel, and the role and responsibilities of the panel in investigating the alleged death and ensuring accountability. The aim is to gain a comprehensive understanding of the steps involved in addressing such incidents and promoting a culture of transparency and accountability in the Nigerian healthcare system.
“The process of appointing and constituting a nine-man panel to investigate the death of late Ms Greatness Olorunfemi’s death is a crucial step in ensuring transparency and accountability in healthcare systems.
“This investigation serves multiple purposes, such as providing closure to the patient’s family, identifying any potential malpractice or negligence, and implementing necessary measures to prevent similar incidents in the future.
“By constituting a nine-person panel, the investigation process gains credibility and legitimacy, as it represents a collective effort to uncover the truth and uphold the principles of justice and patient safety,” she said.
Responding on behalf of other members of the committee, the President of the Medical and Dental Consultants Association of Nigeria (MDCAN), Prof Aliyu Muhammad, commended the FCTA for setting up the investigative panel.
He expressed optimism that the process will boost public confidence in how things are conducted as it affects the well-being and life of the citizenry.
“We are going to look into the system, we are going to critically analyse and come up, based on the provisional investigations that will be carried out on everyone who has something to do with what happened.
“It is a dreadful situation but we are going to refer to all parties concerned, we are going to refer to the system, to the government, and most especially to the family. Whatever appears to us as evidence, is what we are going to submit as our report and it is what we are going to advise the system,” he said.
The panel members drawn from across different medical associations, have the following terms of reference: To ascertain the clinical status at the time of arrival of the patient and any progression to and until death; To determine the role of parties in the matter of Greatness Olorunfemi and her unfortunate death; and To make recommendations for similar situations like this case.
