…Reminds Pregnant Women of Free Health Insurance Scheme
The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has ordered a total crackdown on unregistered hospitals and quack medical personnel operating in the territory.
Wike, reacting to the death of a pregnant woman following a caesarean section at Afolmi Hospital, Durumi, Abuja, directed that “henceforth, anyone found to be operating or working in an unregistered health facility should be arrested and prosecuted.”
The Senior Special Assistant to the FCT Minister on Public Communications and Social Media, Lere Olayinka, in a statement issued on Saturday, described the incident as “unfortunate,” noting that pregnant women in the FCT have access to free registration under the Federal Capital Territory Health Insurance Scheme (FHIS), but many were still not taking advantage of it.
He said:
“In the FCT, vulnerable persons, including pregnant women, enjoy free enrollment into the FHIS, which allows them free access, through the Primary Health Care Centres, to all services covered in the Basic Minimum Package of Health Services (BMPHS).”
Olayinka emphasized that, in line with the Federal Government’s Renewed Hope Agenda and the Wike-led FCTA’s zero tolerance for maternal mortality, several hospitals including Gwarinpa, Nyanya, Abaji, and Kuje General Hospitals have been designated as Comprehensive Emergency Obstetric and Neonatal Care (CEONC) centers, offering cesarean sections free of charge.
“Our pregnant women are once again urged to take advantage of this free health insurance scheme and stop visiting quack medical personnel and unregistered health facilities,” he added.
The incident that prompted Wike’s directive involved Chekwube Chinagorom, a 35-year-old woman who was brought in dead to Asokoro District Hospital after undergoing a caesarean section at the unregistered Afolmi Hospital. Although she delivered a live baby, the baby had to be referred to Asokoro District Hospital for care.
An investigation by the Private Health Establishments Registration and Monitoring Committee (PHERMC) revealed that Afolmi Hospital was not duly registered. During inspection, only one staff member, Simon Elisha Godiya, identified as a Junior Community Health Extension Worker (JCHEW), was present.
Godiya reported that the surgical operation was carried out by one Murtala Jumma alongside an unidentified individual. All efforts to reach Jumma by phone were unsuccessful.
Shortly after PHERMC officials arrived at the facility, officers from the Nigeria Police, Durumi Divisional Headquarters, also arrived. The case was immediately handed over to the police for further investigation.
The PHERMC team accompanied the police to the station to officially record the incident.
The Nigeria Police are currently working to identify those responsible for the surgery, verify their professional qualifications, and investigate the circumstances surrounding the death of Chekwube Chinagorom at Afolmi Hospital.