Borno State Governor, Babagana Zulum, has ordered the Ministry of Health and the Hospital Management Board to investigate the rejection of three accident victims that led to their deaths.
The victims were allegedly rejected by medical staff at the Accident and Emergency Unit (ACEU) of the Umaru Shehu Ultra-Modern Hospital, Maiduguri.
Zulum gave the order in Maiduguri at the hospital’s ACEU, saying the culprits should be fished out within 24 hours for disciplinary action against them.
The order followed a video clip, which went viral on social media showing how some medical officers allegedly rejected the three accident victims for medical care.
He said: “I gave 24 hours for a probe team to identify the medical workers involved and to recommend appropriate sanctions.
“What happened is inhumane and unacceptable to reject accident victims for treatment to save their lives.
“A situation where patients are left crying for help, yet a hospital rejects them.
“We’ll not allow such a situation to repeat itself. I see no reason why disciplinary action will not be taken against the erring staff in this hospital.”
He declared that any medical doctor or health personnel in any of the health facilities who is not willing to attend to patients without reason, he or she would be fired without hesitation.
According to the governor, the Hospital Management Board and the Ministry of Health should ensure disciplinary measures are taken against those on duty that refused to admit the accident victims brought to the hospital for treatments.
Zulum noted that the state has invested a lot in the health sector, including the welfare of the medical officers.
He, therefore, called on medical officers to reciprocate the gesture by providing healthcare delivery services to patients without discrimination.
