The Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly on Monday, 1 September, uncovered the actual cause of the tragic death of a pregnant woman and her baby at the General Hospital, Ikot Ekpene on Friday Saturday last week.
The Assembly discovered this through a visit to the facility in Ikot Ekpene local government area.
The incident, which sparked widespread outrage, prompted the Assembly’s Committee on Health to conduct an unannounced visit to the hospital.
According to findings, the Committee Chairman, Hon. Moses Essien, attributed the tragedy to negligence rather than resource constraints.
“This tragedy has been traced to personal negligence by a doctor on call who failed to turn up for duty. Therefore, this was not about lack of resources. It was about dereliction of responsibility. A doctor abandoned her duty and lives were lost,” Essien emphasized.
The investigation revealed that Dr. Enobong Udota, the second doctor on call, was absent, and Dr. EtoroAbasi Okon, who was not scheduled for duty that day, arrived two hours after being contacted.
Despite registering for antenatal services with no prior complications, the expectant mother did not receive timely intervention, resulting in the death of her baby and later, her own death due to excessive bleeding.
The Permanent Secretary of the Hospital Management Board, Abraham InyangUdo, acknowledged the hospital’s call duty protocol failure and apologized to the bereaved family, the Assembly, and the Governor.
“We recognize the pain caused and assure the public of full accountability,” he said.
The incident has raised questions about professionalism in the state’s health sector, with the public demanding answers and justice.
The Assembly’s final report, pending the Commissioner for Health’s appearance and the Governor’s commission of inquiry, is eagerly awaited.
