Father demands compensation over death of day-old baby at Bauchi Hospital

The father of a day-old-baby in Bauchi, Mubarak Bello, popularly known as Malam MB, has petitioned the Chief Medical Director (CMD) of Bauchi Specialist Hospital, Dr Yau Suleiman Gital, over alleged negligence which led to the death of his child at the hospital.

Bello alleged that his baby had died from excessive bleeding after his umbilical cord was “chopped off” by nurses he described as “incompetent.”

The bereaved father is demanding a full investigation and prosecution of the nurses involved as well as full compensation for the death of his son by the hospital.

Bello, who spoke with Daily Trust Saturday said though he believes in destiny, such “recklessness” should not go unpunished.

He said the incident happened on 2nd January 2023 when senior nurses present at the time of his wife’s delivery allegedly delegated “incompetent colleagues” to handle the delivery and postnatal services.

“When I rushed my wife to the Specialist Hospital on 2nd January 2023, we were received by two senior nurses and two others who appeared like nursing students. The senior ones directed the other two to take her into the labour room and asked me to stay at their office,” he said.

The bereaved father further said, “After some minutes, one of the nurses asked me to buy a recharge card to call the doctor due to her condition, but fortunately, while waiting for the doctor’s arrival, one of the nurses came and informed me that my wife had delivered a baby boy safely.”

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Bello, however, said he later found that the baby had lost excess blood after his umbilical cord was “cut off”.

“The nurses on duty covered up the act by simply wrapping up the baby and keeping him with the mother. The baby was crying, but when I complained, they told me they had years of work experience. He suffered for nine hours in the hospital unnoticed by us. We did not know and they didn’t allow our female relatives into the labour room,” he said.

Bello who had earlier posted the incident on his Facebook account stated that his child had died and he had petitioned the CMD of the hospital, with the aim of holding those responsible to account and also preventing further occurrence.

“Many lives have been lost in our hospitals as a result of negligence and incompetence. Do you know why this has continued? Because we always say, “it is an act of God,” he said.

Daily Trust Saturday reports that in the petition signed by the bereaved father and addressed to the CMD of the Bauchi Specialist Hospital, Dr Yau Suleiman Gital, dated 4th January 2023, in which a copy was obtained by this correspondent, Bello stressed that should the government hospital fail to compensate him and punish the nurses involved, he would have no option but to take legal action.

When contacted, the CMD of Bauchi Specialist Hospital, Dr Yau Suleiman Gital, confirmed that he received the petition and has set up a committee to investigate the matter.

Dr Gital said he was awaiting the outcome of the committee for further action. “I will not make further comments on the petition until after the committee submits its findings,” he said.