The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has initiated a comprehensive crackdown on unregistered hospitals and fraudulent medical personnel operating within the FCT, stating, “henceforth, anyone found to be operating or working in unregistered health facilities should be arrested and prosecuted.”
This directive follows the tragic death of a pregnant woman at Afolmi Hospital, a private health facility located in Durumi, Abuja, after undergoing a caesarean section.
Lere Olayinka, Senior Special Assistant to the FCT Minister on Public Communications and Social Media, commented on Saturday that it is unfortunate that, despite the free registration of pregnant women into the Federal Capital Territory Health Insurance Scheme (FHIS), many pregnant women continue to overlook the benefits of the scheme. He said, “In the FCT, vulnerable persons, including pregnant women, enjoy free enrolment 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).”
He further noted, “Also, in alignment with the Federal Government’s Renewed Hope Agenda and demonstrating the Wike-led FCTA’s 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) centres. These facilities also offer caesarean sections free of charge.”
Olayinka urged, “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.”
It is important to recall that on the previous day, Chekwube Chinagorom, a 35-year-old woman, was brought in dead to Asokoro District Hospital after reportedly dying following a caesarean section at Afolmi Hospital, an unregistered private facility operating in substandard and unsafe medical conditions. She had delivered a live baby, who was subsequently referred to Asokoro District Hospital for care.
An investigation conducted by the Private Health Establishments Registration and Monitoring Committee (PHERMC) revealed that Afolmi Hospital was not properly 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 on duty.
Mr. Godiya stated that the surgical operation was performed by one Murtala Jumma in conjunction with another unidentified individual. Attempts to contact Murtala Jumma by phone were unsuccessful.
Shortly after the PHERMC team arrived at the facility, a contingent of officers from the Nigeria Police, Durumi Divisional Headquarters, also arrived. The case was promptly 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, to which the team complied.
The Nigeria Police are currently assisting in identifying the individuals responsible for the surgery, verifying their qualifications, and investigating the circumstances surrounding the death of Chekwube Chinagorom at Afolmi Hospital.
