Woman loses twins over doctor’s fear of being kidnapped

BY PETER OKUTU
ABAKALIKI-A woman identified as Mama Twins residing along Diamond Point road, Abakaliki, weekend lost her twin babies because her doctor friend (names withheld) refused to open the gate to his private hospital for fear that his clients were kidnappers.

It will be recalled that a Consultant Paediatrician, Dr. Pius Chuka Manyaike with the Federal Teaching Hospital, Abakaliki, FETHA was on 5th May kidnapped by unknown gunmen while entering his private hospital at No. 5A Owerri Street, Abakaliki but was later rescued after one week in the hands of his abductors.

Vanguard learnt that the woman who went into labour at about 2am of the fateful day drove to the hospital (name withheld) in company of her neighbour and first son; made frantic effort to enter the hospital but couldn’t because the doctor allegedly didn’t give directive that the gate of his hospital be opened at that time of the day.

It was gathered that the doctor who refused to open the gate to                                                                                                                                   hospital allegedly suspected that his clients were kidnappers, considering the time and manner they arrived his hospital; not knowing that his assumption were not true.

A source close to the hospital stated that it was not the ethics of the medical profession for doctors to refuse to attend to patients especially those admitted at the Accident and Emergency Ward.

The source however added that the doctor had apologized to the woman for his inability to attend to her when she called at his hospital and explained that the recent wave of kidnap and brutality meted out on doctors in the state were gradually restraining doctors from performing their duties as at when due.

In a chat with Vanguard, the woman who was alternatively rushed to the Federal Teaching Hospital, FETHA, after frantic effort to see her doctor friend failed, lost her twin babies as it was gathered that she had lost so much blood before she was eventually attended to.

The woman who is a mother of five children had been delivered of two set of twins years ago as the doctors who attended to her at the FETHA confirmed that the babies she lost were equally twins (boys).

Meantime, the State Chairman of Nigeria Medical Association, NMA, Dr. Chidi Esike who appealed to doctors to go about their duties without fear stated that the state government had put machineries in place to ensure the protection of lives and properties in the state.

“I’m appealing to doctors to go about their duties; there is no reason for them to be afraid since government has already assures of adequate security at all times. We made some recommendations to government when one of our colleagues was kidnapped and I believe that they (government) has taken note of them”