A grieving family has accused the National Obstetrics Fistula Centre (NOFIC) in Abakaliki, Ebonyi State, of medical negligence, claiming it led to the stillbirth of their baby.
Idris Afolabi, the husband of the affected woman, Zara Afolabi, alleged that doctors at the hospital failed to provide urgent medical care, which resulted in the tragic loss.
Recounting her experience, Mrs. Afolabi claimed she was left unattended despite excessive bleeding. She further alleged that when her husband attempted to transfer her to another hospital, security personnel at NOFIC blocked their exit and assaulted his friend, Ismail Owolabi, who came to assist them.
“We arrived at the hospital at night. A doctor attended to me and requested a scan. By morning, I was still bleeding heavily, but the nurses ignored my pleas for a doctor,” she recounted.
“After repeated requests, a doctor finally came but insisted on another scan. Despite undergoing three separate scans, no action was taken to stop my bleeding. When my husband decided to move me to another hospital, security officers locked the gates and assaulted his friend who came to help us.”
Responding to the allegations, NOFIC’s Public Relations Officer, Rita Nwojiji, refuted claims of medical negligence, insisting that the patient absconded without official discharge.
“She was placed on bed rest due to a threatened abortion, but she and her family left the hospital without a proper referral. The security officers only intervened because an individual entered the hospital and acted aggressively,” Nwojiji stated.
The Afolabi family is now demanding justice and urging authorities to investigate the hospital’s conduct.
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