By Akanimo Kufre
Following the traumatic death of a mother and baby at the Ikot Ekpene General Hospital due to neglect by medical practitioners on duty, the Akwa Ibom State governor Pastor Umo Eno has constitulated a 14-man fact-finding committee to prevent similar reoccurrence
The committee which is chaired by Prof. Israel Jeremiah, a Professor of Obstetrics and Gynecology, is mandated to submit its report and recommendations within 10 days from 2nd September 2025.
It is to Investigate the clinical, administrative, and systemic issues that led to maternal death.
Their responsibilities include reviewing medical records, interviewing involved personnel, assessing hospital readiness and resources, and identifying any negligence or protocol breaches. The committee will evaluate adherence to obstetric standards and emergency procedures and recommend improvements to prevent future incidents.
A detailed report must be submitted to the Akwa Ibom State Commissioner for Health within 10 days. The committee comprises experts from obstetrics, anaesthesiology, nursing, hospital administration, law, and the civil society.
The sad incident went viral last Saturday following a video released by a sister of the victim calling for the governor’s attention.
In a post inauguration comment, the Akwa Ibom State Commissioner for Health, Dr. Ekem Emmanuel said, “it was deeply saddening and this caused government to responded within two hours of the incident. One of the first steps was to secure the patient’s medical records and theatre register for proper review.”
