Rights group petitions n’assembly, demands probe of deaths ’caused by negligence’ at UCH

The Nigerian Human Rights Community (NHRC) has petitioned the national assembly to probe what they say could have been preventable deaths of multiple patients at the University Teaching College (UCH), Ibadan, the Oyo state capital.

In a statement issued on Friday by Olubodun Alao on behalf of NHRC, the group cited the death of one Lydia Adedipe as a recent example of alleged negligence at the hospital.

Alao said Adedipe was subjected to unprofessional medical attention by the hospital’s officials before she died of ovarian cancer on Wednesday.

“She was subjected to unnecessary cultural, psychological, and financial exploitation by the medical staff,” the statement reads.

“After paying millions of naira, she was kept in a filthy ward and subjected to treatments that fell short of dignity.

“Her death could have been avoided if the right thing was done.”

The human rights group accused the hospital’s staff of not showing empathy towards Adedipe.

The NHRC said multiple other patients died at UCH and blamed limited staff, poor equipment, “a highly unhygienic environment,” and a “loss of humanity” among workers as reasons.

“In Nigeria, UCH is expected to be the most remarkable medical institution. Today, UCH is a shadow of itself,” the group said.

“Apart from poor management of material and human resources, the centre is a hub to the worst form of medical workers who appear to take delight in seeing people lose their lives even after millions of funds have been expended to save their loved ones.”

The NHRC urged the national assembly to act “before it is too late”.