Hospital, Abdul-Azeez family trade words over death of 25-year-old girl

Controversy trailing the death of Ms. Kafayat Abdul-Azeez, a 25-year-old graduate of Biology from the University of Abuja, took a different dimension yesterday in Abuja when some family members, friends and colleagues protested at the Asokoro Hospital gate accusing the management for negligence.

Since the death of the young advocate and entrepreneur, the hospital management and family members have been trading words over the unfortunate incidence.

While the protesters, who showed utmost displeasure with the circumstances surrounding the death of the deceased, alleged that Abdul-Azeez died due to lack of adequate care by doctors and nurses, the hospital management claimed she actually died from multiple complications.

Making further clarifications on the death, the Chief Medical Director, Dr. Uche Afioma, who debunked the claims, stated that an investigative panel has been constituted to unravel all the facts in the issue.

Afioma noted that the deceased who was admitted into the hospital on February 14, 2019 was given the best attention that a patient deserves. She said that the investigation billed to last for two weeks would ensure that public confidence on public healthcare system was sustained.

Not satisfied with the hospital management explanation, the deceased friends who protested at the hospital, called on government to urgently reform the healthcare system, so as to stem the tide of unnecessary lost of human lives in the hospitals.

One of the friends of the deceased, Sarah Dansoho, who was among the protesters, insisted that Abdul-Azeez would have survived if only the hospital worker had given adequate attention to her friend.

“Today, we are calling for urgent action, we are gathered here to seek for explanation, to seek for justice, to ask question, we need answers. We are also calling for government’s attention to the poor healthcare system in Nigeria, and request that they act swiftly to revamp our healthcare system.

“Our friend died due to negligence of nurses at Asokoro Hospital. A doctor prescribed medicine for Kafayat Abdul-Azeez, but the nurses did not inform the family of the prescription till the next day. The nurses on duty must be brought to book to ensure this never happens again. Same have happened to many Nigerians in other hospitals”, they added.

The CMD noted: “The hospital is investigating following an inquiry by the family, the matter is under investigation by the clinical services unit of the hospital, SEVICOM and with the health secretariat, they are conducting an independent investigation.

“I am therefore limited to comment with regards to the issue. The hospital has already communicated with the family on this case. However, the issues raised by the family are being noted and would be addressed both by the hospital and the health secretariat,” Afioma said.