By Abujah Racheal
Dr Emmanuel Agogo, Director, Pandemic Threats, Foundation for Innovative New
Diagnostics (FIND), has called for patients’ safety reforms after Chimamanda
Adichie’s son, Nkanu’s death.
Agogo made the call on Monday in Abuja while reacting to the tragic death of the
21 months old toddler.
He described the death of the boy as a tragic loss, adding that the incident served as
a “painful” reminder of the fatal consequences of Nigeria’s broken healthcare
system noting that the call was imperative as neither social status nor prominence
could protect citizens from systemic failures.
According to him, “how many more unfortunate events must we endure before we
admit that our healthcare system is not just broken but fatal? Our silence is costing
us our lives.”
The expert noted that the tragedy exposed longstanding weaknesses in patient
safety, emergency response, and clinical oversight in Nigeria.
He also mentioned recent high-profile cases where emergency response and trauma
care had been criticised for lapses, warning that such failures were not isolated
incidents.
He said that the leadership and elite class’s reliance on foreign medical care was a
reflection of systemic distrust in local health infrastructure.
“If those entrusted with leading the country do not rely on our hospitals for their
own survival, it raises serious questions about why ordinary Nigerians should
accept them as good enough for their children,” he said.
Agogo said that years of under-investment in healthcare, weak regulatory
oversight, and the continued brain drain of skilled health workers had exacerbated
the problem.
” Doctors and nurses are not leaving only for better pay; they are fleeing a system
that does not give them the tools to save lives,” he said.
” Nigeria has approximately one doctor for every 5,000 people; well below the
World Health Organisation (WHO) recommended ratio of 1:600. This shortage
puts immense pressure on healthcare providers and limits timely access to care.
” Studies indicate that Nigeria experiences over 200,000 preventable child deaths
annually, many from pneumonia, malaria, and severe dehydration, conditions
treatable with timely emergency care such.
“Emergency pediatric services are often understaffed, under-equipped, or unevenly
distributed across states,” he added.
He added that in recent months, Nigeria had witnessed several incidents
highlighting lapses in patient safety.
According to him, notably among these incidents was the Anthony Joshua
emergency case, where delayed and improperly coordinated emergency care drew
widespread criticism stressing the urgent need for standardised patient safety
protocols, modern equipment, and incentives to retain health workers in the
country.
Agogo warned that without immediate reforms; avoidable deaths would continue
to occur across both public and private healthcare facilities and urged policymakers
to implement mandatory patient safety programmes, strengthen regulatory
oversight, and ensure emergency care services meet international standards.
