Robbery victim dies as Maitama general hospital allegedly denies treatment
Greatness Olorunfemi, a member of the Yali network and a victim of “one-chance” robbery in Abuja, has tragically passed away after being denied treatment at Maitama General Hospital. It is alleged that the hospital refused to provide medical care to Olorunfemi due to the absence of a police report.
Olorunfemi sustained severe injuries after being thrown out of a vehicle by one-chance robbers along the Maitama-Kubwa Express. Upon reaching the hospital for immediate care, she was reportedly turned away because she did not have a police report.
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A witness named West Robinson captured a video at the scene, showing Olorunfemi lying on the floor. He described how he and others rushed her to Maitama General Hospital, where she tragically passed away after being denied treatment.
Regrettably, the nurses and doctors on duty at the hospital allegedly refused to admit Olorunfemi. Within just 20 minutes, she lost her life while still awaiting assistance. To prevent her body from being left on the floor, emergency services were contacted, and the police were requested to come to the scene.
Police officers arrived at the hospital in a Hilux van, accompanying another victim who had been stabbed in the head after falling victim to one-chance robbers in a taxi. The hospital authorities also allegedly refused to admit the second victim, prompting the police to direct that the patient be taken to the national hospital.
Attempts to gather official information about the incident were met with a request for approval from the management board through a letter, according to reporters from The Gazette.
In response to the situation, DSP Josephine Adeh, the police spokesperson for FCT, confirmed that an investigation into the rejection of the victims by Maitama General Hospital is currently underway.
Although police reports were prerequisites for treating victims in the past, this was annulled years ago. The hospital’s action violates the National Health Act, which criminalises the demand for police reports before administering treatments to gunshots or accident victims.
Former President Goodluck Jonathan signed the law in December 2014. It was reviewed into the Compulsory Treatment and Care of Victims of Gunshots Act by his successor, Muhammadu Buhari, in 2017.
According to the law, medical facilities found contravening the law risk a N100,000 fine, six months’ imprisonment or both.
Section 20 (1) of the act states, “A health care provider, health worker or health establishment shall not refuse a person emergency medical treatment for any reason whatsoever”, while subsection 2 states, “Any person who contravenes this section is guilty of an offence and is liable on conviction to a fine of N100,000 or imprisonment for a period not exceeding six months or to both.’’
