By Alex Enebeli
A US-based foundation, Quantus Medical Foundation (QMF) has urged hospital management across the country, to always accept emergency cases in a bid to save lives.
Founder of QMF, Dr Nnenna Ihekoromadu, made the call during the flag off of “WeCare Nigeria Initiative” at the University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital (UNTH) Ituku-Ozalla Enugu on Monday.
She noted that some patients who were rushed to hospital in emergency situations, were often refused for various reasons ranging from lack of beds, non-availability of medical doctors and understaff of medical personnel.
“We are saying that hospital management should put a ban on patient rejection in emergency situations,
whether it’s during labor or any type of emergency because Nigeria law does not allow that.
“The law says that no patient should be refused care in an emergency situation but the problem is that most patients don’t know that; so we need to increase awareness.
“This is why we need to empower health personnel by providing all the tools, resources and training, so they don’t reject patients; So, WeCare Nigeria Initiative is designed to support healthcare workers rather than assign blame,” she said.
The founder added that through the initiative, it would empower UNTH, by providing satellites, train its porters by giving them uniforms, walkie-talkies, as well as increase bed spaces for patients in the accident and emergency units.
She explained that the engagement with management and staff of UNTH, focused on strengthening compassionate care, emergency preparedness, and patient safety.
“The engagement also reinforced awareness of existing Nigerian law prohibiting the refusal of emergency patients, highlighting the importance of aligning hospital practice with legal, ethical, and professional standards,” she stressed.
Also speaking, the Programme Director of WeCare, Chibuogu Obinwa, said that the ambassadors were created to drive the change process in the hospital, especially in the accident and emergency units.
“This will lead to zero refusal of patients in emergency situation and create a model whereby patients will be treated,” she said
In the same vein, the Chief Medical Director of UNTH, Prof. Obinna Onodugo, said that the initiative aligned with what the hospital had been doing to save patients’ lives in times of emergency.
“We do quarterly performance review where all the heads of departments and heads of units meet every quarter to look at their departments and their units,” he said
“He noted that the hospital does not waste time to treat patients in emergency, adding that the hospital undertake 24-hours operations, to serve patients. (NAN)
Edited by Abdulfatai Beki/Sandra Umeh
