The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, has directed security agencies to clamp down on unregistered hospitals and quack medical practitioners operating in the FCT.
The directive followed the death of a 35-year-old pregnant woman, Chekwube Chinagorom, who passed away after undergoing a caesarean section at Afolmi Hospital, an unregistered private facility located in Durumi, Abuja.
In a statement released on Saturday by the Senior Special Assistant on Public Communications and Social Media, Lere Olayinka, Wike warned, “Henceforth, anyone found to be operating or working in an unregistered health facility should be arrested and prosecuted.”
Describing the incident as unfortunate, Olayinka emphasized that despite the provision of free registration into the Federal Capital Territory Health Insurance Scheme (FHIS) for pregnant women, many residents still patronize unsafe medical facilities.
“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,” Olayinka stated.
He further highlighted that major hospitals in the FCT — such as Gwarinpa, Nyanya, Abaji, and Kuje General Hospitals — have been equipped as Comprehensive Emergency Obstetric and Neonatal Care centres, offering free cesarean sections.
“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.
According to the statement, Chinagorom was brought in dead to the Asokoro District Hospital after the surgery at Afolmi Hospital.
Although she did not survive, her baby was delivered alive and transferred to Asokoro Hospital for care.
An investigation by the Private Health Establishments Registration and Monitoring Committee (PHERMC) revealed that Afolmi Hospital was operating without proper registration.
During their inspection, the committee found only one staff member present — Mr. Simon Elisha Godiya, identified as a Junior Community Health Extension Worker.
The statement explained, “Mr. Godiya reported that the surgical operation was performed by one Murtala Jumma in conjunction with another unidentified individual. All attempts to reach Murtala Jumma via phone were unsuccessful.”
It continued, “Shortly after the PHERMC team arrived at the facility, a detachment of officers from the Nigeria Police, Durumi Divisional Headquarters, also arrived. The case was immediately handed over to the Police for further investigation. The officer in charge requested that the PHERMC team accompany them to the station to formally record the incident, and the team complied accordingly.”
The police, according to the statement, are currently assisting in tracking down the individuals involved in the surgery, verifying their professional qualifications, and investigating the circumstances surrounding Chinagorom’s death at Afolmi Hospital.
