The father of one Dominion Akintan, a toddler has accused the management of Okitipupa General Hospital, Ondo State, of negligence, after the death of his one-year-and-seven-month-old son.
OsunDaily News learnt that the deceased was rushed to the hospital Saturday night for medical attention, but got no personnel on the ground to attend to him.
It was gathered that the little Dominion gave up when his parents and a good Samaritan attempted to seek help for him at a nearby private hospital, as he urgently needed a blood transfusion.
OsunDaily News understands that Dominion’s father, Olawale Akintan, in tears said no one came to attend to his son at the emergency unit of the hospital, after several minutes of calling out for help.
In his narration, Akintan said, โon Saturday, I rushed my baby, Dominion Akintan, to that general hospital by 9pm. On getting there, I was told to go to the emergency ward. I rushed to that place and kept shouting for help for over 15 minutes, but no one came out to attend to me.
Unfortunately, I lost my boy on the way to a nearby private hospital. My boy was in need of blood. He gave up before any attention could be given to him.
I lost my only child, and it was painful. I am not in a good condition right now. My wife is depressed. I donโt know how my family will get out of this pain. I cannot explain why a state hospital will not have medical personnel to attend to patients.
The government needs to bring professionals to that hospital; they should hire trained doctors and pay them so they can be willing to work there.”
Meanwhile, OsunDaily News gathered that the Ondo State Commissioner for Health, Banji Ajaka, was reported to have said the chief medical director(CMD) of the hospital, who confirmed the incident, blamed the boy’s parents for not seeking medical attention on time.
Similarly, the health commissioner also blamed the parents of the child for not seeking medical attention on time.
According to Ajaka, the CMD attested to the presence of the family of the deceased at the hospital on referral from a private hospital.
The CMD said “the family was asked to buy a card when the worker confirmed that the doctor was in the call room. But before the doctor would avail himself to the place, the family had left with their child, possibly to another hospital for immediate attention and unfortunately, the child died on the way to the other hospital.”
However, OsunDaily News learnt that an eyewitness, Ekundayo Ayorinde, was reported to have said no doctor or nurse was on duty when the child was rushed to the hospital, adding that medical workers are only available in the morning.
He said, โWhen we got to the hospital, the entrance of the building was dark. I had to use my phone torchlight to brighten our path. There was no nurse or doctor in the hospital. I and the father of the boy were shouting for nurses, but there was no one to attend to us.
After some minutes, a worker called a doctor, who said he was on casual leave and he was not around.
On Sunday, I spoke to a woman who told me that if I wanted to meet a doctor in the hospital, I must go there in the morning because their doctors are never available in the afternoon or night.โ
The CMD confirmed that a worker put a call across to the doctor after calling another doctor who was on leave.
But said “I blame the parents who did not seek medical attention on time. And in such a hurry, some protocols needed to be observed. I also blame the medical personnel who are supposed to be apt with their jobs especially in emergency situations. We are not short of medical doctors, currently, we have over 12 medical staff and specialists in various units in that same hospital.”
The health commissioner has however ordered the CMD to reach out to the bereaved parents, adding that the state government would look into the incident.
This article was originally published on OsunDaily News