Analyst Alleges Negligence, Administrative Rot at University of Abuja Teaching Hospital
A public affairs analyst and development expert, Suleiman Musa Ahmed, has called on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and relevant health authorities to urgently investigate alleged negligence and systemic failures at University of Abuja Teaching Hospital following the death of an 11-month-old baby at the facility’s Emergency Paediatric Unit.
Ahmed, in a strongly worded statement issued in Abuja, described the hospital as “the new mortuary for paediatrics and infants,” alleging that poor emergency response, inadequate medical supplies and administrative lapses contributed to the death of baby Barakat Ayuba Umar.
According to him, the incident occurred after he received an emergency call from relatives over the deteriorating health condition of the infant, who reportedly suffered convulsion after being treated for malaria.
He said the child was rushed from Dakwa area of Abuja to the teaching hospital in Gwagwalada in the early hours of Thursday, where doctors and nurses on duty immediately commenced emergency treatment to stabilise her condition.
Ahmed, however, alleged that serious lapses were observed during the treatment process.
“The pharmacy in-house did not have even a plaster to properly secure the line connected to the baby’s drip, leading to repeated removal of the cannula during an emergency situation,” he alleged.
According to him, the repeated interruption affected the flow of medication and oxygen supply needed to stabilise the child, whose condition later worsened into a coma.
He further alleged that despite the baby’s unstable condition and breathing difficulties, medical personnel transferred her from the emergency unit to another ward against his protest.
“Why move a baby in a clear case of breathing difficulty without stabilising her first?” he queried.
Ahmed said the movement allegedly disrupted the medical line again, leading to cardiac arrest.
He disclosed that efforts by medical personnel to revive the infant through cardio-pulmonary resuscitation failed, and the baby was pronounced dead at about 7:43 a.m.
The analyst also accused some hospital officials of negligence and poor accountability, alleging that the records officer on night duty was absent until dawn, while the chief matron only appeared after the situation deteriorated.
“The insensitive and obvious negligence made me reflect on the five-hour sad experience at the Emergency Paediatric Unit and conclude that many helpless Nigerians are suffering the same fate,” he said.
He described the development as a reflection of what he termed the “rot” within the hospital system and urged the Federal Government to prioritise reforms in tertiary healthcare institutions across the country.
Ahmed specifically called on the Chief Medical Director of the hospital, Professor Thairu Yunusa, the Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Ali Pate, the Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria, as well as the Senate and House of Representatives Committees on Health, to investigate the circumstances surrounding the incident and initiate reforms
“It is time to put a stop to medical negligence and sheer irresponsibility by those entrusted with managing our tertiary hospitals across the country,” Ahmed stated.
He also sympathised with the bereaved family, praying for comfort and strength for the parents over what he described as “an irreplaceable loss.”
