To avert further death of pregnant women during delivery in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), the FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike, has ordered a total clampdown on unregistered hospitals and quack medical personnel operating in the capital city.
“Henceforth, anyone found to be operating or working in an unregistered health facility should be arrested and prosecuted,” Wike said.
He gave this order while reacting to the death of a pregnant woman following a caesarean section at Afolmi Hospital, a private health facility located in Durumi, Abuja.
Senior Special Assistant to the FCT Minister on Public Communications and Social Media, Lere Olayinka, said in a statement at the weekend that it was unfortunate that despite the free registration of pregnant women into the Federal Capital Territory Health Insurance Scheme (FHIS), most pregnant women were still not taking advantage of the scheme.
He said: “In the FCT, vulnerable persons, including pregnant women, enjoy free enrollment into the FHIS, which allows them free access, through the Primary Health Care, PHC centres, to all services covered in the Basic Minimum Package of Health Services BMPHS.
“Also, in alignment with the Federal Government’s Renewed Hope Agenda and demonstration the Wike-led FCTA zero tolerance for maternal mortality, several hospitals in the FCT, including Gwarinpa, Nyanya, Abaji, and Kuje General Hospitals, have been designated as Comprehensive Emergency Obstetric and Neonatal Care, CEONC centers. These facilities also offer cesarean sections free of charge.”
“Our pregnant women are once again urged to take advantage of this free health insurance scheme and stop visiting quack medical personnel and unregistered health facilities,” he added.
Recall that a 35-year-old woman, Chekwube Chinagorom, was brought in dead to Asokoro District Hospital. She was reported to have died following a caesarean section at Afolmi Hospital, Durumi, Abuja, an unregistered private facility operating in a substandard and unsafe medical environment.
She had been delivered of a live baby, who was subsequently referred to Asokoro District Hospital for care.
Investigation conducted by the Private Health Establishments Registration and Monitoring Committee (PHERMC) revealed that Afolmi Hospital was not duly registered. At the time of inspection, only one staff member, Mr. Simon Elisha Godiya, who identified himself as a Junior Community Health Extension Worker (JCHEW) was present on duty.
Mr. Godiya reported that the surgical operation was performed by one Murtala Jumma in conjunction with another unidentified individual. All attempts to reach Murtala Jumma via phone were unsuccessful.
Shortly after the PHERMC team arrived at the facility, a detachment of officers from the Nigeria Police, Durumi Divisional Headquarters, also arrived. The case was immediately handed over to the Police for further investigation.
The officer in charge requested that the PHERMC team accompany them to the station to formally record the incident, and the team complied accordingly.
The Nigeria Police are currently assisting in identifying the individuals responsible for the surgery, verifying their qualifications, and investigating the circumstances that led to the death of the late Chekwube Chinagorom at Afolmi Hospital.
