The Anambra State government has suspended a health worker, Mrs. Njideka Ezeihejiofor, for refusing to attend to a pregnant woman in the state.
Ezeihejiofor is the Officer-in-Charge at Ukpo Primary Healthcare Centre.
The patient delivered a stillborn baby outside the health facility on Tuesday.
Ezeihejiofor’s suspension was approved by the disciplinary panel chaired by the state’s Commissioner for Health, Dr. Afam Obidike, after investigating the circumstances surrounding the incident on Friday.
The officer, who appeared before the panel, said she turned back the pregnant patient when she came to the facility at 11:00 a.m., due to fatigue.
She said: “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.
“A 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.”
In his remark, the commissioner said the panel found that Ezeihejiofor, refused to examine the pregnant woman or provide a referral letter when she visited the centre.
“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 added.