Akwa Ibom State has launched an investigation into the deaths of a woman and her newborn after surgery.
Governor Umo Eno ordered a commission of inquiry to probe alleged negligence at Ikot Ekpene hospital.
The Akwa Ibom State Government has begun an inquiry into the deaths of a young woman and her newborn, who passed away after a caesarean section at the General Hospital in Ikot Ekpene.
A video shared on social media and picked up by news outlets on Sunday showed a family member blaming hospital staff for negligence, alleging the woman suffered heavy bleeding during delivery. The footage stirred widespread anger and renewed demands for accountability in public health facilities.
Governor Umo Eno, in his reaction, conveyed condolences to the grieving family and instructed the state’s Commissioner for Health, Dr. Ekem Emmanuel John, to set up a panel made up of both medical and legal professionals. The team has been tasked with establishing the facts of the case and recommending ways to prevent a repeat.
According to a statement from the Commissioner on Sunday, the governor had ordered the immediate constitution of “a high-powered commission of inquiry, consisting of legal and medical experts, to thoroughly investigate the unfortunate deaths at the General Hospital, Ikot Ekpene, determine what went wrong, and suggest measures to avoid future tragedies.”
The release added that Dr. John personally led a delegation from the Health Ministry to the hospital shortly after midnight to conduct a preliminary fact-finding visit and speak with relevant parties.
The government emphasized that reducing maternal deaths remains a central policy goal of the administration and assured the public that the investigation would be transparent. The ministry also warned that if any form of negligence is proven, disciplinary actions would be taken in line with civil service and professional standards.
