Community News: How Hospital Negligence Killed Woman After Delivering Twins

GETTING proper medical attention has become a major challenge to people in rural communities in Osun State, as they have continued to groan over poor health facilities and attitude of health workers at Primary Healthcare Centres.

This resonates in the avoidable loss of lives of many healthcare seekers, like Mrs. Roseline Omidele, who died after giving birth to a set of twins at a Primary Health Centre in Ola, Ejigbo local government area of the State.

Omidele was expected to return home with her set of twins when she fell into labour and was rushed to the PHC in Ola on September 18, 2023, where she earlier had a six-month ante-natal care as reported by residents.

Unfortunately, the woman died after the delivery of the set of twins as a result of shortage of blood, it was learnt.

Her death, according to residents, was caused by shortage of manpower and lack of adequate medical facilities in the health centre.

Regular absence of health personnel who were supposed to be on call of duty at the maternity was also said to be connected with Omidele’s death.

Speaking on the incident, a community leader and spokesperson of the family, Pa. David Omidele, said the medical personnel at the maternity where the deceased had gone for delivery, told them that there were no drugs to take care of the woman.

Narrating the ordeal, the deceased’s husband, Mr. Ayo Omidele, mentioned one ‘Iya Eleedu’ as the medical personnel attached to the maternity. He claimed that the nurse was not present at the health centre hours after his wife delivered, a situation he said led to her loss of excessive blood which resulted to her death.

The husband said: “My wife registered for antenatal in the hospital. They knew the pregnancy was a set of twins. We have paid for every medical material demanded by the health centre. I’m weak and old, my wife that has been killed by the nurse – Iya Eleedu, was the one taking care of me”. 

The incident, according to Paul Adekunle, a resident of Ola, has thrown the community into mourning, describing it as pathetic and bitter to swallow.

He said: “The incident that happened was sad and pathetic. It is difficult to swallow. After the woman gave birth at the health centre, she fainted and was later resuscitated back to life but she later died. 

“Some of the suspicion was that the woman was in short of blood after delivering the babies. And if there was competent hand at the hospital, she could have survived. 

“The staff that are supposed to be on duty are not available during the incident. It was another person who is not a staff that was called to help the woman to deliver.  Those employed by the government were not available.”

Another resident in the community, Mr Simon Dada, recalled a similar experience when an expectant mother had to deliver on bare floor in the Health Centre due to the absence of personnel at that time.

Findings by OSUN DEFENDER revealed that, the diseased arrived the health centre around 5am, but no one was on duty, which prompted her relative to reach out to a Community Health Extension Worker (CHEW) employed by Ola people.

It was learnt that the personnel arrived at 7am and took the delivery, while she reached out to the OIC who was nowhere to be found. 

According to sources, the CHEW officer left the patient in the hospital to her fate while she went home. 

Speaking on the experience of Ola people on the Health Centre, Dr. Jacob Fasanya, said the community had several times complained on the poor management of the hospital to the government.

Fasanya disclosed that the community is responsible for funding the hospital and provide necessary medical materials needed. 

According to him, “We have been complaining to the government for a long time that we needed change of hands in the health centre. We want the workers there to be replaced. 

“We are also in dire need of medical equipment that will make their job easier and meaningful. We also need necessary drugs in the health centre for the need of the people.  A lot of people come here for treatment, including pregnant women and the sick. People from about ten other neighbouring villages, like Agrodo, Aye, Isoko, Iwari, Oloko and others come here for medical attention. 

“They are carrying out surgical operations here before but all things are now in a deteriorated condition and we have been calling on the government before now to intervene. But we hope they will attend to our demands. 

“We need equipment and a new set of health workers. The workers here are about eight but only one or two of them always come to work. We need those who will be committed to work in this environment. What has just happened is part of what we have been experiencing for a long time. 

“This is not be the first incident, but is the most critical and painful, and it demands urgent attention.  Lack of proper medical attention is what led to the death of the woman. Now, people are resulting to going to quack doctors instead of coming to the government health centre.”

In her own narration, another resident, Mrs Julianah Oloyede, said the OIC known as Iya Eleedu (charcoal seller) on the day of the incident, arrived the hospital at 9am and proceeded to the Regent’s place to seek fund to purchase drug and IV.

“By the time she got back to the hospital, the case had become worsen and had to transfer the patient to Ejigbo, but she died few minutes after they departed the hospital”, she stated.

OSUN DEFENDER gathered that the Primary Health Centre where the incident occurred was part of the 332 Health Centres captured in the World Bank’s Save One Million Lives fund under the administration of Mr Adegboyega Oyetola.

• Yusuf Oketola