The Kwara State government has promised to take action against health workers involved in professional misconduct.
This comes after reports of a missing umbilical cord and placenta of a newborn baby at a cottage hospital in Iloffa, Oke-Ero Local Government Area.
The State Commissioner for Health, Dr. Amina Ahmed El-Imam, reacted to the incident by stating that the government would not tolerate any form of professional misconduct among health workers. “We will not condone professional misconduct among health workers,” she said.
The incident, which involved the missing umbilical cord and placenta of a baby born to Mrs. C. B. A. Williams, a teacher at Orota Secondary School, is under investigation by the police. Mrs. Williams gave birth on Sunday night, but the umbilical cord and placenta were not given to her by the hospital staff.
Five health workers from the Iloffa Cottage Hospital are being detained by the General Investigation Unit of the Criminal Investigation Department in Ilorin.
The suspects include Dr. Ajibola, a resident doctor, and three nurses: Rukayat Adeloye, Aishat Awolusi, and Peace Alabi, as well as Toyin Adewumi, a ward attendant.
Dr. El-Imam said, “The state ministry of health has commenced its internal investigation into the matter and will ensure that justice is done at the end of both processes.”
The Commissioner emphasized that the state government, led by Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, is committed to providing universal health care and quality service for all citizens. “Any attempt to undermine this stance through any act of misconduct will be vigorously dealt with,” she warned.
The value of a baby’s placenta is estimated to be around $50,000 due to its therapeutic components, including cord/placental blood, amniotic membrane, and mesenchymal stem/stromal cells.
