Anambra government suspends two health workers for negligence, absenteeism

A health worker named Mrs. Njideka Ezeihejiofor has been suspended by the Anambra government for failing to treat a pregnant woman who gave birth to a stillborn child outside the medical facility on Tuesday. 

After looking into the incident's circumstances, the disciplinary panel led by Dr. Afam Obidike, the state's Commissioner for Health, approved Ezeihejiofor's suspension on Friday. 

Ezeihejiofor, the Officer-in-Charge of Ukpo Primary Healthcare Centre, testified before the panel that she turned away the pregnant patient when she arrived at the hospital at 11 a.m. because she was too tired.

“When the patient came in, she said she was about six-months pregnant and that she could no longer feel her baby kicking. I told her to go to a higher health facility to get the best care.

“Few minutes later, some persons ran to the health centre and said the pregnant woman just had a baby two poles away and I should come and attend to her. I refused because I was afraid,” she said.

According to Obidike, the panel discovered that Ezeihejiofor had neither given the pregnant woman a referral document or performed an examination when she came to the clinic.

“When she was called to assist and separate the placenta after the woman delivered the stillborn just two poles away from the facility, Ezeihejiofor reportedly declined,” he said.

The Commissioner condemned her actions, noting that a retained placenta could have caused the woman to bleed to death.

“A retained placenta can cause life-threatening bleeding and even death. That patient could have bled to death if not for the prompt intervention of another health worker within the area.

“The panel however, resolved that Ezeihejiofor be immediately demoted and suspended without pay while the other staff in the centre be queried,” he said.

In a similar vein, it was discovered that Mrs. Blessing Offor, the officer-in-charge of the Uke Primary Healthcare Centre in Idemili North, had been routinely missing from work. 

She was ordered to return eight months' worth of wages that had been paid while she was away, and the panel suspended her pay indefinitely.

Source