The Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA), has inaugurated a nine-member panel to investigate the death of the late Ms Greatness Olorunfemi, a victim of ‘one-chance operators’.
The Mandate Secretary, Health Services and Environment, Dr Adedolapo Fasawe, while inaugurating the panel on Thursday in Abuja, said that the findings of the panel would go a long way in charting the means of improving and achieving efficient health care delivery.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Olorunfemi died on alleged refusal of Maitama District Hospital to treat her after being pushed out of a moving vehicle by ‘one-chance operators’ on Sept. 26.
Olorunfemi, until her demise, was a community developer and member of the Young African Leaders Initiative (YALI) Network.
According to eyewitness accounts, she died on account of alleged refusal of Maitama District Hospital, Abuja, to accept and treat her after her ordeal in the hands of the hoodlums.
According to Fasawe, the members of the panel were nominated to help bring to bear their wealth of experience through painstaking investigation and interaction to unravel what led to the incident and proffer ways forward.
“This panel will play a crucial role in investigating this case and bringing about justice.
“We have explored the legal framework for establishing an independent and investigative panel, the process of appointing and constituting a nine-person panel, and the role and responsibilities of the panel in investigating the alleged death and ensuring accountability.
“The aim is to gain a comprehensive understanding of the steps involved in addressing such incidents and promoting a culture of transparency and accountability in the Nigerian healthcare system,” he said.
Fasawe implored members of the panel to take the assignment as a worthy service to the nation by being thorough, professional and efficient in the investigation of the incident.
The secretary said that the panel’s Terms of Reference (ToR) include ascertaining the clinical status at the time of arrival of the patient and any progression to and until death.
It is also to determine the role of parties in the matter of Olorunfemi and her unfortunate death and to make recommendations for similar situations like this case.
She said that the duration for the investigation and submission of the report is one week.
Chairman of the panel, Prof. Aminu Mohammed, the President, Medical and Dental Consultants Association of Nigeria (MDCAN), said that inaugurating the investigative panel was a commendable gesture.
He said that such a gesture from both the government and the civil society organizations and the public would restore confidence in how things are conducted as it affects the wellbeing and life of the citizens.
“As we are inaugurated today, on behalf of the members, we are going to be exactly the oath we have taken.
“We are going to look into the system and critically analyse and come up based on the informed decision and provisional investigations that will be carried out on every one who has something to do with what happened,” he said.
Other members of the panel are: Mr Babatunde Irukera, Executive Vice Chairman, Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC), Dr Abdul Adelowo, Association of Pathologists of Nigeria (ASSOPON), Mr Micheal Nnachi, President, National Association of Nigerian Nurses and Midwives (NANNM).
They also include: Dr Abubakar Ahmadu, HS and ES, Dr Ezuma Nnamdi, Vice President, National Association of Resident Doctors (NARD), Dr Ochi Christabel, Medical Women Association of Nigeria (MWAN) and Barrister Salman Dako, General Counsel, FCTA.
Gloria Dandam, the Director of Administration at the Health Services and Environment Secretariat, will serve as the panel secretary.
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