The National Human Rights Commission has warned health officials against maltreatment of patients in their various hospitals and healthcare facilities.
Executive Secretary of the commission, Prof. Bem Angwe, issued the warning at NHRC headquarters in Abuja on Wednesday during the launch of report of research study on human rights and maternal mortality.
The report focused on the six area councils of the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, where a total of 96 hospitals/healthcare facilities, comprising 51 primary, 43 private and government secondary and two tertiary healthcare institutions were surveyed.
Various stakeholders, including the President of Defence and Police Officers Wives Association and wife of the Chief of Defence Staff, Mrs. Omobolanle Olonisakin, and wife of the Inspector-General of Police and President of the Police Officers’ Wives Association, Mrs. Agharase Arase, lamented the plights of pregnant women badly treated by health officials in the hospitals.
Angwe, who described maternal mortality as the major challenges to gender equality, said the magnitude of its incidence in Nigeria “is a sign of social injustice”.
He urged the public to always report the cases of maltreatment by health personnel to the commission, which he said would help victims to pursue compensation.
Angwe said, “Medical personnel who has been confirmed to have done an act of negligence will have to pay compensation. If it involves institution, the institution will make the victim become rich.
“It is only in Nigeria that a practitioner will be responsible for the death of a person and nothing happens and the personnel will continue his practice without losing his license.
“We call on Nigerians to report maltreatment by health personnel to the commission. We need cooperation to bring quack doctors that are busy killing people to justice.”
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