The Quantus Medical Foundation- a healthcare nonprofit organisation, based in the United States of America, has declared that no emergency patient should ever be rejected in Nigeria, insisting that access to urgent medical care is both a moral duty and a legal obligation under Nigerian law.
The declaration was made on Monday, January 19, 2026, during a high-level healthcare engagement held at the University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital (UNTH), Ituku-Ozalla, Enugu, under the Foundation’s flagship We Care Nigeria Initiative.
The engagement brought together UNTH executive leadership, designated WeCare Change Ambassadors, doctors, nurses, allied health professionals, and porters for structured discussions and hands-on training aimed at improving how care is delivered, particularly in emergency settings.
The UNTH engagement is a pilot program, designed to develop and refine a much needed hospital culture-change and emergency care strengthening model that Quantus Medical Foundation plans to replicate across hospitals nationwide.
Speaking at the event, the Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Quantus Medical Foundation and Quantus Medical, Dr. Nnenna Ihekoromadu, said Nigeria’s healthcare challenges go beyond infrastructure and equipment, stressing that a deep cultural change is urgently required within the system.
“Nigeria’s healthcare system does not only need more hospitals or equipment; it needs a cultural reset,” Ihekoromadu said. “We must bring back compassionate care, accountability, respect for patients and staff, and excellence in service delivery. Without these, we fail the system and, most importantly, we fail patients.”
She explained that the We Care Nigeria Initiative operates on a C-A-R-E framework, which stands for Compassionate care, Accountability, Respect for all, and Excellence, adding that these principles are central to rebuilding trust in public hospitals across the country.
According to her, Quantus Medical Foundation has spent the past two months engaging UNTH through baseline hospital tours, leadership and change-management training, and a hospital-wide staff satisfaction survey designed to understand the real challenges facing healthcare workers.
“We asked the people who do the work how they feel about their work, and we listened to their responses,” she said. “Based on our findings, we are recommending practical steps to change governance structures, workplace culture and accountability systems within the hospital.”
Dr. Ihekoromadu revealed that one of the most critical outcomes of the engagement is a firm stance against the rejection of patients during emergencies, including labour cases and accident situations.
“No patient should be turned away in an emergency — not during labour, not during accidents, not at any critical moment,” she declared. “The Nigerian law is clear on this, but many patients are not aware of their rights. Hospitals must also be empowered with the tools, training and systems they need so that rejection never happens.”
She disclosed that Quantus Medical Foundation is supporting UNTH with digital infrastructure, including internet installation, electronic medical records, clock-in and clock-out systems, and improved emergency response coordination to ensure accountability and efficiency.
Also speaking at the event, the Chief Medical Director of UNTH, Professor Obinna Onodugo, welcomed the partnership, describing it as timely and aligned with ongoing reforms within the hospital.
“This partnership means a lot to us,” Onodugo said. “The focus is on restoring empathy, professionalism and patient-centred care. Infrastructure alone is not enough; healthcare workers must show basic human compassion to every patient.”
He noted that UNTH already operates a policy of treating emergency patients without demanding immediate payment, adding that the hospital is working towards a zero-complaint culture.
“We do not want any patient to say they came to UNTH and were turned back or treated badly,” he said. “Emergency patients are treated first, regardless of their ability to pay. Our goal is zero rejection and zero complaints.”
Professor Onodugo, however, acknowledged existing systemic challenges, including staff fatigue, long commute times, and attitudinal issues, which he said the hospital is actively addressing through performance reviews, supervision and institutional reforms.
Both parties agreed that sustainable change must come from within the system, supported by strong leadership, accountability and continuous training.
Dr. Ihekoromadu reaffirmed Quantus Medical Foundation’s long-term commitment to UNTH, describing the teaching hospital as the Foundation’s flagship partner under the We Care Nigeria Initiative.
“We are completely committed to helping UNTH change its culture and enhance the way medicine is practised,” she said. “Every Nigerian deserves dignity, compassion and quality care — especially in emergencies, where lives are on the line.”
About Quantus Medical Foundation
Quantus Medical Foundation is a healthcare nonprofit, based in the United States of America, dedicated to transforming healthcare delivery in Nigeria through culture change, workforce empowerment, emergency preparedness, patient safety, and system strengthening. Its flagship program, WeCare Nigeria, partners with hospitals to support sustainable, people-centered healthcare systems.
