10th January, 2016
Eromosele Ebhomele
Lagos State House of Assembly has put machinery in motion towards investigating alleged unabated maternal mortality rate in the state, especially as caused by personnel negligence and other factors beyond medical reasons.
Chairman of the Assembly’s Committee on Health Services, Olusegun Olulade, who made the disclosure at the weekend, said that the committee would commence both scheduled and unscheduled tours of the General Hospitals in the state.
He said this while addressing a petition brought before the committee by Women Advocates Research and Documentation Centre (WARDC), a human rights, non-governmental organisation with particular focus on supporting women’s sexual and reproductive rights.
The three-page petition, signed by Dr. Abiola Akiyode-Afolabi cited “poor infrastructure, ineffective health services, high user fees and cases of women who died due to alleged negligence by medical personnel.
“A case in point, according to the petition, is that of Mrs. Omowunmi Shonuga who died with her baby after childbirth at the Rauf Aregbesola Health Centre in Mosan-Okunola Local Council Development Area, Alimosho as a result of inadequate medical care.
The Commissioner for Health Dr. Jide Idris in his submission at the meeting, said the state government was committed to setting healthcare delivery in its optimal standard, particularly in the areas involving high rates of maternal and child mortality.
Idris further stated that the case of the late Mrs. Shonuga had been brought to him, assuring the committee that the affected personnel would be dealt with accordingly.
He also acknowledged that the concerned doctor who was supposed to be on duty was not available when the unfortunate incident occurred.
However, Olulade expressed his bitterness over the incident and promised to take swift steps in ensuring that such actions by erring personnel are stopped, while urging the managements of General Hospitals to wake up to their responsibilities for effective healthcare delivery in Lagos State.