FCT Minister Vows To Shut Down Hospitals After Pregnant Woman D!ed At Illegal Facility During Surgery

ABUJA______The death of a pregnant woman after a caesarean section at an unregistered hospital in Abuja has triggered a clampdown on illegal medical facilities by the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike.

In a statement issued on Saturday by media aide to the FCT Minister on Public Communications and Social Media, Lere Olayinka, the Minister warned, “Henceforth, anyone found to be operating or working in an unregistered health facility should be arrested and prosecuted.”

The directive followed the death of 35-year-old Chekwube Chinagorom, who was brought in dead to the Asokoro District Hospital after undergoing surgery at Afolmi Hospital, an unregistered private facility in Durumi.

According to the statement, although pregnant women are offered free registration into the Federal Capital Territory Health Insurance Scheme, many still patronize unsafe clinics.

“In the FCT, vulnerable persons, including pregnant women, enjoy free enrollment into the FHIS, which allows them free access, through the Primary Health Care Centres, to all services covered in the Basic Minimum Package of Health Services,” Olayinka said.

He added that several hospitals, including those in Gwarinpa, Nyanya, Abaji, and Kuje, have been equipped as Comprehensive Emergency Obstetric and Neonatal Care centres, offering free caesarean sections.

“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,” Olayinka added.

An investigation by the Private Health Establishments Registration and Monitoring Committee revealed that Afolmi Hospital was not duly registered, and only one staff member, Mr. Simon Elisha Godiya, a Junior Community Health Extension Worker, was present during inspection.

“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,” the statement said.

It further disclosed, “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 is 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,” the statement concluded.