Doctor and nurses detained over vanishing placenta in Kwara hospital

The child's mother, Mrs. C. Williams, a teacher at Orota Secondary School in Odo-Owa, reportedly gave birth on Sunday night but did not receive the baby's umbilical cord and placenta from the hospital staff.

Kwara State police have initiated an inquiry into the vanishing of a newborn's umbilical cord and placenta at Government Cottage Hospital, Iloffa, situated in the Oke-Ero Local Government Area.

The child's mother, Mrs. C. Williams, a teacher at Orota Secondary School in Odo-Owa, reportedly gave birth on Sunday night but did not receive the baby's umbilical cord and placenta from the hospital staff.

According to City Round, five hospital employees were subsequently apprehended regarding the missing items and are currently held by the State Criminal Investigation Department's general Investigation unit in Ilorin.

The individuals in custody include a resident doctor, three nurses, and a ward attendant from the hospital.

Reports indicate that the police were summoned after unsuccessful attempts to resolve the issue at different levels.

It was also reported that the intervention of Odo-Owa community elders was necessary to pacify some irate youths who, suspecting foul play, nearly set the hospital ablaze on Tuesday due to the incident.

Mrs. Williams recounted her experience, stating she was taken to the hospital with labor pains on Sunday afternoon and delivered her baby around 7 pm that evening.

"I started feeling labor pains on Sunday, and I arrived at the cottage hospital shortly after 1 pm, informing the on-duty nurse about my contractions; she confirmed I was in labor and took care of me.

"She led me to the labor room and asked me to wait as there was still time. Soon after, the doctor arrived and directed the nurse to take me into the labor room," she explained.

She mentioned that after the birth, she was discharged the next morning and sent home.

However, she noted that while the hospital staff handed her a bag with her belongings, they did not include the baby's placenta and umbilical cord when she was discharged.

"They gave me a black nylon bag, but upon checking, I noticed the umbilical cord and placenta were missing," she stated.

The Police Public Relations Officer, Ejire-Adeyemi Toun, when reached, verified the occurrence and mentioned that the investigation is in progress.

"The police are actively investigating the matter, and five individuals have been detained in relation to it," the PPRO confirmed.

Related Posts: