Following the death of a pregnant woman over alleged negligence in Akwa Ibom hospital, the state Commissioner for Health, Dr. Ekem John, has assured that the government would not shield anybody culpable in the incident.
Dr. John made the call during a meeting with the Chairman of Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly Committee on Health, Hon. Moses Essien, representing Ibiono Ibom State Constituency, top officials of the health ministry and hospital board on Thursday, September 4, 2025.
The incident drew widespread outrage and condemnation when the victim’s sister, Ndifreke Amos, posted a video on Facebook after the death of a 32-year-old Mrs. Ndiana Sunday Amos and her baby d!ed last weekend over alleged negligence by medical personnel at Ikot Ekpene General Hospital, that left the deceased unattended to for three hours.
The Commissioner described the deaths as unfortunate, but defended the competence of the medical team.
He confirmed that Governor Umo Eno had already set up a 14-member investigative panel to determine the circumstances surrounding the deaths.
According to him, the panel has been mandated to review clinical processes, interview hospital staff, and assess the institution’s readiness in terms of manpower and equipment.
“All records have been secured, queries have been issued, and nobody will be shielded,” he assured.
The governor’s panel, chaired by Prof. Israel Jeremiah of Niger Delta University, is expected to examine whether negligence, breach of protocol, or systemic lapses led to the deaths. It is to submit its findings within 10 days.
While inaugurating the panel in Uyo, Dr. John urged members to work “without fear or favour,” stressing the government’s commitment to strengthening healthcare delivery and preventing similar tragedies.
Earlier, Hon. Essien had directed the Ministry of Health and the State Hospitals Management Board to impose disciplinary measures on all medical personnel found culpable in the d3ath of a pregnant woman and her newborn baby at the Ikot Ekpene General Hospital.
Hon. Essien described the deaths as “preventable” and the result of professional lapses.
He warned that the Assembly would not rest until justice was served.
Essien revealed that an unscheduled fact-finding visit to the hospital showed that ‘‘the late Mrs. Amos was said to have been diagnosed with suspected placenta previa by the first doctor on call.
‘‘He sought a second opinion from another doctor who was unavailable. A third doctor was eventually contacted but arrived two hours late.
‘‘The consultant obstetrician on duty was never informed of the emergency. By the time surgery was finally performed, the baby was already dead. Although the mother initially survived the operation, she later succumbed to excessive bleeding,” Essien said.
The lawmaker insisted that the Commissioner for Health must take responsibility for the failure.
“You are the head of the Ministry of Health, and the cursor is on you,” he told Dr. Ekem John during a heated session at the Assembly complex.
He further questioned why Ikot Ekpene General Hospital remained in poor condition despite a N500 million allocation for its rehabilitation in the 2025 state budget.
According to him, essential services such as electricity, water, and staffing remain grossly inadequate, undermining Governor Eno’s ARISE Agenda for the health sector.
