Family Demands Justice After Alleged Hospital Negligence Leads to Death

The family of Chiahoziem Dike, a 37-year-oldasthmatic patient, is demanding justice and calling for the shutdown of Federal Staff Hospital in Gwarimpa, Abuja, after Dike died due to alleged negligence by the hospital staff. On April 25, 2024, Dike had an asthmatic attack and was rushed to the hospital, but the medical staff on duty refused to open the gate, despite the security guard's willingness to help.

This incident highlights the need for accountability and improved healthcare services in medical facilities across the country. It also raises concerns about the competence of medical staff and the potential consequences of negligence, which can lead to loss of lives and erosion of trust in the healthcare system.

After a two-hour wait, Dike was denied entry and referred to Federal Medical Centre, Jabi, where he was pronounced dead. The family claims that the hospital's failure to attend to Dike led to his death, which could have been avoided if the hospital had provided basic medical attention. "My brother is 37 years old. Did you know how long he has been struggling? He is my parents' only son. We can't sleep. This incident could have been avoided but no, you guys chose to take his life," said Onyiyechi, Dike's sister.

The family, along with friends, staged a protest at the hospital, blaming the staff for Dike's death and demanding justice. They are calling for the hospital to be shut down within 72 hours and are seeking an investigation into the incident. The family is also demanding that the Minister of Health and the FCT authorities take action against the hospital and its staff.

"I was his friend, I was with him when he had the attack. He was asthmatic. He had this attack last week on the 25 of April at about 4:30 am we drove him to this hospital, two doctors came and refused to open the gate for us," said Dike's friend who was with him during the incident. Mr. Innocent Echi, Dike's in-law, questioned the competence of the hospital staff, stating, "We had them on record when they were talking carelessly, I cannot but question whether they graduated from medical college and who issues them license."

Why this matters: The Chief Medical Director of Federal Staff Hospital, Dr. Adewumi, expressed regret over the incident and promised to investigate the matter. However, he claimed he was not aware of the specific cases mentioned by the protesters. The family's demands for justice and the hospital's alleged negligence have brought attention to the need for improved healthcare services and accountability in medical facilities across the country.

Key Takeaways

• 37-year-old asthmatic patient Chiahoziem Dike died due to alleged negligence at Federal Staff Hospital in Abuja.
• Hospital staff refused to open the gate, delaying treatment for 2 hours, leading to Dike's death.
• Family demands justice, shutdown of hospital, and investigation into the incident.
• Hospital's Chief Medical Director promises to investigate, but claims unaware of specific cases.
• Incident highlights need for accountability and improved healthcare services in Nigeria.