Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Minister, Nyesom Wike, has initiated a comprehensive crackdown on unregistered hospitals and unqualified medical practitioners operating in the territory. The move comes after the death of a 35-year-old pregnant woman, Chekwube Chinagorom, who died following a caesarean section at Afolmi Hospital, an unregistered private facility in Abuja’s Durumi area.
Wike’s directive mandates the arrest and prosecution of anyone operating or working in unregistered healthcare facilities. He expressed disappointment over the low utilization of the Federal Capital Territory Health Insurance Scheme (FHIS), which provides free access to essential health services, including caesarean sections, for pregnant women.
The minister urged expectant mothers to take advantage of the Comprehensive Emergency Obstetric and Neonatal Care (CEONC) centers at designated hospitals in the FCT, such as Gwarinpa, Nyanya, Abaji, and Kuje General Hospitals, where cesarean sections are provided free of charge.
The tragic incident occurred on April 25 after the woman, having undergone surgery at Afolmi Hospital, was pronounced dead upon arrival at Asokoro District Hospital. Investigations revealed that Afolmi was operating without proper registration. The Private Health Establishments Registration and Monitoring Committee (PHERMC) found that the surgery was performed by unqualified staff, and the case has now been handed over to the Nigeria Police for further investigation.
