- Government suspends personnel, queries others for negligence, absenteeism
A pregnant woman has narrated how she lost her baby owing to the absence of health workers at a Primary Health Centre in Ukpo, Anambra State.
The woman said she visited the community health centre for delivery but only met a medical worker who abandoned her and directed her to search for another hospital for delivery.
She said the nurse allegedly watched her battling with labour pain and insisted that there was no health worker to attend to her.
The pregnant woman said the incident happened last Monday, adding that she had to trek a long distance before she could get to a private hospital where she was treated after giving birth to stillborn on the road close to the health centre.
“I went into labour and I decided to rush to our Primary Health Care Centre in our community, Ukpo. But, I only met a female nurse. She abandoned me and asked that I should find another hospital.
“At that time, it was difficult for me to even get a vehicle that could transport me to another hospital and being a rural community, there are not many commercial transporters. So, I did not have a choice than to trek some distance before I could get through to my husband who later brought a car that took me to another hospital. I was unlucky as the labour became intense and I had to give birth on the road, about two poles to the health centre without any medical assistance.
“Though I have lost my baby, I thank God for my life because I thought I would die. The labour was painful and I could have bled to death,” she said.
Angered by the development, the woman’s husband stormed the public PHC and found it locked.
He appealed to the Anambra State Governor, Chukwuma Soludo to probe the alleged absence of workers at the PHC, saying many lives are in danger over lack of medical personnel to offer medical services.
“Governor Soludo must act on this. How can a whole Primary Health Centre be under lock and key in broad daylight? No single medical worker. I later met a woman who looked like a nurse and questioned her but she did not give any reason as to why there are no doctors, nurses and other workers on the ground to attend to patients.
“Now, I have lost a child because people who are being paid by the government dodge work and go for their personal businesses. Governor Soludo, this act of inhumanity must not go unpunished,” he said.
Villagers complained that most of the health workers in rural communities no longer come to duties despite receiving salaries from the state government.
Condemning the development, the state government identified the female health worker who refused to attend to the pregnant woman as Mrs. Njideka Ezeihejiofor, found her guilty of negligence and suspended her.
Ezeihejiofor’s suspension was approved last Friday by the disciplinary panel chaired by the state’s Commissioner for Health, Afam Obidike, after investigating the circumstances surrounding the incident.
Appearing before the panel, Ezeihejiofor who is the Officer-in-Charge at Ukpo Primary Healthcare Centre, said she turned back the pregnant patient when she came into the facility at 11am, due to fatigue.
“When the patient came in, she said she was about six-months pregnant and that she could no longer feel her baby kicking. I told her to go to a higher health facility to get the best care. Few minutes later, some people ran to the health centre and said the pregnant woman just had a baby two poles away and I should come to attend to her. I refused because I was afraid,” she said.
Meanwhile, Obidike said the panel found that Ezeihejiofor refused to examine the pregnant woman or provide a referral letter when she visited the centre.
“When she was called to assist and separate the placenta after the woman delivered the stillborn just two poles away from the facility, Ezeihejiofor reportedly declined,” he said.
The Commissioner condemned her actions, noting that a retained placenta could have caused the woman to bleed to death.
“A retained placenta can cause life-threatening bleeding and even death. That patient could have bled to death if not for the prompt intervention of another health worker within the area.
“The panel however, resolved that Ezeihejiofor be immediately demoted and suspended without pay while the other staff in the centre are queried,” he said.
Similarly, Mrs. Blessing Offor, the Officer-in-Charge of Uke Primary Healthcare Centre in Idemili North, was found to have been consistently absent from duty.
The panel suspended her salary indefinitely and she was directed to refund eight months of wages previously paid during her absence.
Obidike emphasised the state’s commitment to high-quality healthcare delivery, warning that such unprofessional behaviour undermines Governor Chukwuma Soludo’s investment and health policies.
He urged health workers unwilling to fulfill their duties to resign quietly or face disciplinary measures.
He also urged residents to report incidents of negligence via designated contact numbers displayed at healthcare facilities.
Members of the panel included the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Health, Mrs. Obiageli Uchebo, Executive Secretary, Anambra State Primary Healthcare Development Agency, Mrs. Chisom Uchem and Coordinator, Anambra Civil Society Network, Mr. Chris Azor.
