A tragic incident has been reported in Kano State following the death of Aishatu Umar, a mother of five, after an alleged case of medical negligence at the Abubakar Imam Urology Centre, a government-owned hospital in the state.
According to a relative of the deceased, Abubakar Mohammed, Aishatu passed away after enduring months of severe abdominal pain that began shortly after she underwent surgery at the facility in September last year. He said her condition steadily worsened despite several visits to the hospital.
Mohammed alleged that during these visits, doctors only prescribed pain-relief medications without carrying out thorough medical checks to identify the cause of her suffering. It was not until a few days before her death that detailed scans were reportedly conducted, revealing that a pair of surgical scissors had allegedly been left inside her body during the initial operation.
He explained that arrangements were being made for another surgery to remove the object, but Aishatu died before the procedure could be performed.
Describing the incident as unacceptable, Mohammed called on the Kano State Government and relevant medical authorities to investigate the matter and ensure justice is served. He said such an error raises serious concerns about patient safety and professional standards in public hospitals.
In response, the Kano State Hospitals Management Board confirmed that it had ordered an immediate investigation into the allegation. The board’s Executive Secretary, Dr Mansur Mudi Nagoda, through the Public Relations Officer, Samira Suleiman, assured the public that the probe would be thorough, transparent and impartial.
The board stated that appropriate disciplinary action would be taken if negligence is established. The incident has sparked public concern and renewed demands for stronger accountability and improved healthcare delivery in the state.
