One-chance victim: Senate seeks sanctions against Maitama General Hospital

***seeks probes into her death, Summons IGP, Wike, Pate

The Senate has demanded for sanctions against the Maitama General Hospital for manslaughter over negligence in  administering treatment to a victim of one chance.
The upper legislative chamber also called for a thorough investigation into the death of Greatnes Olorunfemi, a victim of notorious ‘one-chance’ operators in Abuja.

Olorunfemi, a community developer and member of the Young African Leaders Initiative Network (YALI), died at the Maitama General Hospital after she was allegedly denied treatment for not providing a police report.

She was said to be pushed out of a fast-moving vehicle along the Maitama-Kubwa highway on September 26, 2023 by notorious ‘one-chance’ operators who had reportedly robbed her.

The Senate, following a motion by Senator Asuquo Ekpenyong (Cross River South), summoned the Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, Ministers of Health and FCT, Ali Pate and Nyesom Wike respectively over the issue.
It also directed its committees on Health and Police Affairs to invite the doctor who allegedly refused the victim treatment.
Red Chamber urged the relevant authorities to sensitise hospitals and health centres nationwide to ensure compliance to the Gunshot Act.
Senator Ekpenyong, in his motion, said the action of the hospital was contrary to the Compulsory Treatment and Care for Victims of Gunshot Act, 2017, which gives victims of gunshots and other emergencies the right to treatment.
The law states that every hospital in Nigeria, both public and private, shall accept or receive, for immediate and adequate treatment with or without police clearance, any person with a gunshot wound.
The Act further states that no gunshot victim shall be refused immediate and adequate treatment whether or not an initial monetary deposit has been paid.
Section 13 of the Act slams a fine of N50,000 or five years imprisonment or both on any offender.
Senator Ekpenyong, who lamented the lack of enforcement and compliance to the Act, called for a review of the law to provide for stiffer penalties.