A Kano-based resident, Abubakar Muhammad, has spoken out publicly following the tragic death of his wife, Aishatu Umar, who passed away at Abubakar Imam Urology Centre after complications arising from a surgical procedure. Muhammad has accused the hospital of medical negligence, alleging that errors during the operation directly contributed to her untimely death and caused prolonged suffering for both his wife and their family.
In an interview with Daily Trust, Muhammad revealed that his wife, a mother of five children, passed away in the early hours of Monday, roughly four months after undergoing surgery at the state-owned hospital located in Fagge Local Government Area of Kano State. He claims that during the initial operation, doctors allegedly left a pair of surgical scissors inside her abdomen, a mistake that went unnoticed until days before her death.
According to Muhammad, Aishatu fell ill several months ago and was admitted to the hospital in September for the surgical procedure. While the surgery was intended to treat her condition, he explained that she began experiencing severe and persistent abdominal pain shortly afterward, a sign that something had gone wrong during the operation.
Hospital prescribe painkillers for stomach pain
Despite repeatedly returning to the hospital to report her worsening condition, Muhammad alleges that the medical staff only prescribed painkillers to manage her discomfort, without conducting further diagnostic investigations. “Each time she went back to complain, they only prescribed painkillers. They kept telling her the pain was normal for patients who had undergone surgery, but they never recommended an X-ray or any form of scan,” he said. According to him, this lack of thorough investigation contributed to months of unnecessary suffering for his wife.
He explained that her health continued to deteriorate over the subsequent months. Only days before her death, after undergoing tests and scans at Muhammad Abdullahi Wase Specialist Hospital and Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital, did doctors allegedly discover the pair of surgical scissors that had been left inside her body during the earlier operation. Muhammad revealed that corrective surgery had been planned to remove the object, but tragically, his wife passed away before the procedure could be carried out.
Muhammad described the incident as gross medical negligence and expressed deep frustration and pain over the loss of his wife. He emphasized that such an error raised serious concerns about professional standards in the healthcare system and the accountability of medical practitioners. “While we acknowledge that death is inevitable, we cannot understand how such an error could occur during a surgical procedure. Incidents like this undermine public confidence in medical professionals and health institutions,” he said.
Bereaved husband calls for investigation, justice
The grieving husband has called on the Kano State Government and relevant health regulatory authorities to launch a thorough and transparent investigation into the circumstances surrounding his wife’s death. He stressed the need for justice, both to hold the responsible parties accountable and to prevent similar incidents from occurring in the future.
In response to the allegations, the Kano State Hospitals Management Board has ordered an immediate and comprehensive investigation into the matter. Dr. Mansur Mudi Nagoda, the Executive Secretary of the Board, confirmed on Tuesday that the probe would focus on establishing the facts and circumstances surrounding the incident, including how the surgical error occurred and what steps were taken following the operation.
The Board assured the public that patient safety remains a top priority and reaffirmed its commitment to maintaining high standards of healthcare delivery across Kano State. Officials have promised to take appropriate action based on the findings of the investigation and to implement measures aimed at preventing similar occurrences in other hospitals under its jurisdiction.
The tragic case has sparked widespread concern among the public, highlighting issues of medical negligence, patient safety, and accountability in Nigeria’s healthcare system, and reigniting calls for stricter oversight of surgical procedures in state-owned medical facilities.[/p>