Olusegun Ariyo
Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly Committee on Health has called on the Ministry of Health and the Hospitals Management Board to take immediate disciplinary action against medical personnel whose alleged negligence reportedly led to the tragic death of a pregnant woman and her newborn at the Ikot Ekpene General Hospital in the state.
Chairman of the Committee and member representing Ibiono Ibom State Constituency, Hon. Moses Essien, made the call during a meeting with the Commissioner for Health, Dr. Ekem John, and top officials of the health ministry and hospital board at the Assembly complex on Thursday.
Recall that the pregnant woman, late Mrs. Ndiana Sunday Amos, lost her life and that of her baby last weekend over reported negligence by medical personnel at the hospital, according to a video posted online by the deceased’s sister.
The House Committee, which went on an unscheduled fact-finding visit to the hospital on Monday, discovered that negligence, not lack of resources, caused the tragic death of the woman.
From the committee’s visit, it was revealed that “Dr. Mfon Thomas, the first doctor on call, had documented the patient’s condition, suspected placenta previa, and sought a second opinion from Dr. Enobong Udota, who was absent. Another doctor, Dr. EtoroAbasi Okon, who was not on duty, was eventually contacted but arrived about two hours late. Crucially, the Consultant Obstetrician and Gynaecologist, Dr. Ekerette Dan, the third doctor on call, was never informed of the emergency.
“By the time surgery was performed, the baby had already died. Although the mother was initially stabilised post-surgery, she succumbed to excessive bleeding shortly after.”
Miffed by the narrative, the Health Committee Chairman said the House of Assembly will not rest until sanctions are meted out on those involved, even as he urged the Health Commissioner to take responsibility and make necessary recommendations to the Governor. “You are the head of the Ministry of Health, and the cursor is on you,” Hon. Essien stated.
He described the incident as a “preventable tragedy” and a direct consequence of professional lapses by on-duty staff.
Essien further queried the continued infrastructural and personnel shortfalls at the Ikot Ekpene General Hospital, despite the Assembly’s allocation of ₦500 million in the 2025 budget for its rehabilitation. He decried the absence of essential services like constant power supply, water, and adequate medical staff, stating that such inadequacies were inimical to Governor Umo Eno’s ARISE Agenda in the health sector.
In response, Commissioner for Health, Dr. Ekem John, described the deaths as “unfortunate,” while defending the competence of the medical staff involved. He disclosed that Governor Eno had already set up an investigative panel to probe the incident thoroughly and ensure accountability.
However, he assured that justice would be served, noting that hospital records had been secured to prevent tampering and all relevant staff had been issued queries.
