Tragedy has struck in Kano State following the death of a mother of five, Aishatu Umar, after an alleged case of medical negligence at the Abubakar Imam Urology Centre, a government-owned hospital.
A relative of the deceased, Abubakar Mohammed, said Aishatu died after suffering severe abdominal pain for months following a surgery carried out at the hospital about four months ago.
According to Mohammed, the surgery was performed in September. Shortly after the procedure, Aishatu reportedly began to complain of persistent and worsening abdominal pain. He said she returned to the hospital several times but was only given pain-relief drugs without further medical checks.
“She underwent surgery at the Abubakar Imam Urology Centre in September. After that, she kept complaining of serious stomach pain. Anytime she went back to the hospital, they only gave her painkillers,” Mohammed said.
He explained that medical tests and scans were eventually conducted a few days ago, which allegedly revealed that a pair of scissors had been left inside her body during the surgery.
“It was only two days ago that scans were done, and doctors discovered that scissors were forgotten inside her body. They planned another surgery, but she died before it could be carried out,” he added.
Mohammed described the incident as clear negligence and called on the Kano State Government and relevant health authorities to investigate the matter and ensure justice.
“How can doctors forget a pair of scissors inside a patient’s body? This is unacceptable and damages trust in the health sector,” he said.
Reacting to the incident, the Kano State Hospitals Management Board said it had ordered an immediate investigation to determine what led to Aishatu’s death.
The Executive Secretary of the board, Dr Mansur Mudi Nagoda, said in a statement issued through the board’s Public Relations Officer, Samira Suleiman, that the investigation would be transparent and professional.
He assured the public that the case would not be swept under the carpet and that appropriate action would be taken if negligence is confirmed.
