Man who petitioned National Hospital over wife’s death demands justice

Nathan Ahunanya, who petitioned National Hospital for negligence leading to the death of his wife on May 27, is to appear in a documentary criticising failure in the health system and demanding justice. “I want justice to be done,” said Ahunanya, who is to feature in the 30-minute documentary Failed by Angels, made by the […]

Nathan Ahunanya, who petitioned National Hospital for negligence leading to the death of his wife on May 27, is to appear in a documentary criticising failure in the health system and demanding justice.

“I want justice to be done,” said Ahunanya, who is to feature in the 30-minute documentary Failed by Angels, made by the group Centre for the Right to Health (CRH) and featuring two others disappointed by their treatment in hospitals.

His wife Rose died after spending hours in an emergency bed outside the hospital wards while staff at the hospital dallied between casualty and delivery ward and to process paperwork before they could admit her.

 “I want…if there will be a movement that will revive our health system, because the place is in shambles,” said Ahunanya.

“If you don’t have a connection in some of these our big hospitals, you don’t get attention. If you have a senator or minister, even before the minister is coming, the doctor is on ground waiting. When it has to do with ordinary Nigerians, they seem not to care.”

Rose was delivered of twin babies at Amana Hospital but developed blood pressure complications after being left on her own while her tenders went out for prayers on Friday May 27.

An erratic blood pressure forced Amana to write a referral to National Hospital after consultation, but Ahunanya said National Hospital staff refused the ambulance carrying his wife and an Amana matron entry into emergency ward, shunted her to the delivery ward and back to emergency, before finally demanding formal registration be opened.

Ahunanya said even after he paid N2,000 to open a file, the registration official couldn’t find the forms he needed. His wife’s death prompted a petition, which National Hospital has not responded to since June. The hospital did not comment immediately.

“They interviewed me and said they would get back to me. Today is December 5, and I haven’t heard anything from them. I am still waiting up till this time,” he told Daily Trust.

CRH executive director Stella Iwuagwu said provisions of health laws and the Constitution guaranteeing personal dignity and rights of a patient and giving them grounds to report mistreatment were poorly understood.

“We will not get anywhere until people begin to report,” said Iwuagwu. “The laws are there, but application is missing.”

Failed by Angels highlights violation of patient rights, support for patient right to information, with its makers insisting it was “carrying the crusade so that more people don’t die or are maimed.”