A public affairs analyst and development expert, Suleiman Musa Ahmed, has called for an urgent investigation into alleged negligence and administrative failures at the University of Abuja Teaching Hospital following the death of an 11-month-old child at the hospital’s Emergency Paediatric Unit.
In a statement released in Abuja, Ahmed accused the hospital of serious lapses in emergency care and poor management practices, alleging that the death of baby Barakat Ayuba Umar could have been prevented with better medical response and adequate supplies.
According to him, the child was rushed from the Dakwa area of Abuja to the hospital in Gwagwalada after suffering convulsions while receiving treatment for malaria. He stated that doctors and nurses initially began emergency procedures to stabilise the infant upon arrival.
Ahmed, however, alleged that the treatment process was hindered by shortages of basic medical materials and operational inefficiencies within the facility.
He claimed that medical staff struggled to properly secure the intravenous line connected to the baby’s drip due to a lack of essential supplies, resulting in repeated interruptions to medication and oxygen administration during the emergency.
The analyst further alleged that the infant was later transferred from the emergency unit to another ward despite her unstable condition and breathing difficulties. According to him, the movement allegedly disrupted medical support again, after which the child reportedly suffered cardiac arrest.
He said attempts by medical personnel to revive the infant through cardiopulmonary resuscitation were unsuccessful, and the child was pronounced dead shortly afterward.
Ahmed also raised concerns over what he described as poor accountability and inadequate supervision at the facility, alleging that some key personnel were unavailable during critical moments of the emergency.
Describing the incident as a reflection of wider challenges within the healthcare system, he called on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and relevant health authorities to investigate the circumstances surrounding the death and implement reforms across tertiary healthcare institutions.
He specifically urged the hospital’s Chief Medical Director, Thairu Yunusa, the Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Ali Pate, the Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria, and the National Assembly health committees to examine the allegations and strengthen accountability within the healthcare sector.
Ahmed also extended condolences to the bereaved family, describing the child’s death as a painful and irreplaceable loss.
