Housewife’s murder sparks off trouble at FMC Asaba

Allegations of negligence have continued to stir trouble at the Federal Medical Centre (FMC) Asaba, Delta State following the death of one Rita Uchebuego in the hospital a few weeks ago. 

While the story of the sad death of the housewife who was pregnant with twins, and delivered the babies before she gave the ghost to negligence hitherto raises dust, the hospital management through its Acting Medical Director, Dr. Victor Osiatuma, said the woman died from blood transfusion complications, denouncing the claims of negligence as untrue. 

The deceased’s husband, Ngozi Uchebuego at a media conference yesterday in Asaba, told journalists that he married Rita last year and were happy when they discovered she was carrying twins. “We registered for ante natal at FMC and card number FMCP/0270822 was issued to my wife. One Dr. Ojenuwa Sunday Abiodun was assigned to her.”

Sadly, the hospital went on strike, and one Albert Omate, his friend, recommended Graceland Specialist Hospital/Maternity to him, where he met one Dr. Maduakor, who doubles as a consultant obstetrician/gynecologist at the FMC.  He alleged that Maduakor insisted he register his wife with him for same antenatal services; a request, Uchebuego claimed was immediately granted and was consequently issued with a patient card number 2666.  He said: “Dr. Maduakor told me that my wife has blood shortage because she was carrying twins”. 

He further disclosed that when the FMC strike was called off, his wife resumed attendance there, and Dr. Ojenuwa confirmed her EDD to be 10th March 2017, but on Monday, 6th March 2017, “Rita was at the hospital where Dr. Ojenuwa discovered that her blood pressure was 160/100mmHg, and advised that she should be admitted to monitor her blood pressure till the following day”.  He said that the next day, he requested his mother in-law join him at the hospital, but to his surprise, met his wife in severe pains, screaming.

“I asked what the problem was and was told she had been induced. I did not know what it meant to be induced.” Uchebuego said he was shocked when it was revealed to him that inducement can only be done when permission had been sought, and obtained from the expecting mother, and her husband, adding that he was unsettled and immediately requested to see Dr. Ojenuwa rather his efforts to see him met a brick wall as he was nowhere near the hospital. 

He added that his wife was rushed into the labour ward the next day, where she was forced to push but yielded no positive result when she tried and failed, and was booked for an emergency cesarean section after she had suffered two failed unauthorized inducements. 

“At about 1:30pm, my twin girls were born, and the surgery ended at about 2:00pm when my wife was rolled out of the theater to the O&G ward with a pint of blood connected to her body through her hand” he said. 

Regretting that his wife was killed due to the hospital’s negligence, Uchebuego disclosed that he met the wife struggling with oxygen fixed on her, and fearfully beckoning on him to come and assist her but could not do much. He said he shouted for help only for one Nurse Egbuobi to shout back at him; and while praying for the wife, she gave up the ghost. 

“Since my wife died, I have been getting strange calls but I have vowed to get to the root cause,” he said. 

His lawyers, led by Dumbili Chinonso Emmanuel told journalists that though investigations were ongoing, he said it was clear that Ojenuwa and Maduakor’s negligence resulted in the death of Rita Uchebuego, demanding that Victor Osiatuma be sacked while others be made to face the law.