September 05, (THEWILL) — The death of a pregnant woman and her newborn at the Ikot Ekpene General Hospital has sparked outrage in Akwa Ibom State, prompting both the House of Assembly and Governor Umo Eno to open separate investigations into alleged medical negligence.
The victim, 32-year-old Mrs. Ndiana Sunday Amos, died after a prolonged labour, which her family claims was mishandled by hospital staff.
A video posted online by her sister showed the deceased writhing in pain without adequate medical attention, fueling widespread anger across the state.
On Thursday, the House of Assembly Committee on Health ordered the Ministry of Health and the State Hospitals Management Board to sanction all medical personnel found culpable.
Committee Chairman, Hon. Moses Essien, described the tragedy as “preventable” and blamed it on professional lapses.
He warned that the Assembly would pursue justice to its conclusion.
According to findings from the lawmakers’ unscheduled visit, Mrs. Amos was first diagnosed with suspected placenta previa by Dr. Mfon Thomas, the doctor on call.
He sought a second opinion from Dr. Enobong Udota, who was unavailable, before contacting another colleague, Dr. EtoroAbasi Okon, who reportedly arrived two hours late.
Crucially, the consultant obstetrician on duty, Dr. Ekerette Dan, was never informed of the emergency. By the time surgery was eventually performed, the baby had already died.
Although the mother initially survived the operation, she later succumbed to excessive bleeding.
Essien also faulted the state government for failing to upgrade the hospital despite ₦500 million earmarked for its rehabilitation in the 2025 budget.
He queried the absence of electricity, water, and adequate staff, saying the state’s healthcare delivery fell short of Governor Eno’s ARISE Agenda.
In response, Commissioner for Health, Dr. Ekem John, described the deaths as “unfortunate” but insisted the medical team was competent.
He announced that Governor Eno had already set up a 14-member investigative panel to determine whether negligence, breach of protocol, or systemic failures led to the tragedy.
The panel, chaired by Prof. Israel Jeremiah of Niger Delta University, includes medical experts, lawyers, administrators, and civil society representatives. It has 10 days to submit its findings.
“All records have been secured, queries issued, and nobody will be shielded,” Dr. John said, urging the committee to carry out its task “without fear or favour.”
Meanwhile, public anger continues to mount, with civil society groups demanding sanctions against negligent officers and a comprehensive overhaul of emergency response systems in state-owned hospitals.
For many, the deaths of Mrs. Amos and her child stand as a grim reminder of the human cost of lapses in the health sector, and a litmus test for the government’s commitment to accountability.
