….victims share heartbreaking stories
…As patients safety lags , families mourn
The incident that occurred on the 6th of January,2026 regarding the passing on of Nkanu Nnamdi, a 21-month-old toddler of Chimamanda Adichie, a renowned poet and author, has left the family heartbroken, while many Nigerians share mixed reactions over the circumstances surrounding the toddler’s death.
Adichie, who accused Euracare Multi-Specialist Hospital, Lagos, of sheer negligence, has raised the alarm both online and offline over several other incidents that might have gone unreported across the country, according to sources.
“My son would still be alive today if it were not for an incident of negligence at Euracare Multi-Specialist Hospital,” she shared with AriseNews.
Adichie’s loss is one case among many, as sources shared with this reporter some heartbreaking experiences they have had in the past.
On the 28th of December, 2025, Dorcas Panshak (not her real name) was rushed to a hospital (name withheld), hoping to be delivered of her baby. After the delivery, there were complications thereafter. She had severe bleeding and was referred to another hospital, but unfortunately, she could not make it to the next hospital alive.
“She bled for a very long time before the healthcare providers decided to refer her after much delay,” an eyewitness shared with this reporter.
“What broke my heart the most was that she fell from the stretcher while they (the medical practitioners) were trying to wheel her to the ambulance, simply because the gait belt was not in place to hold her,” the source added.
“Unfortunately, upon getting to the ambulance, we were told that the key to the ambulance was with the HR. These two incidents led to the demise of the patient,” the source explained.
From the pregnant woman in Kano who lost her life because the healthcare professional on ground refused a cash transfer and demanded cash at hand, to the accident victim who died at Ile-Epo General Hospital due to healthcare negligence, the list goes on and on.
BusinessDay findings also revealed that this is the third time the said anesthesiologist at Euracare Multi-Specialist Hospital had overdosed on child patients with anesthesia during a procedure, a source who spoke anonymously with the reporter mentioned.
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), one in every 10 persons dies from healthcare negligence or is harmed while receiving healthcare services. In Nigeria, about 250,000 persons die annually due to medical errors, according to experts, while four in 100 persons are harmed during medical treatments, a WHO report stated.
Although Euracare Multi-Specialist Hospital released a press statement consoling the Adichies, it also added that it would investigate the matter surrounding the death of Nnamdi.
Negligence, medical errors erodes trust
The incident that just occurred has brought into question the safety of Nigerians in the country’s healthcare system.
While many passionate medical professionals are working tirelessly to rebuild trust in the system, it appears that a handful of negligent ones are undermining these efforts, further eroding trust in the system. As Richard Ajayi, founder of Bridge Clinic, clearly stated, “Nigeria’s $1.3 billion medical tourism bill is the symptom of a system that stopped trusting itself,” he stated.
“Every time I read a report on Nigeria losing $1.3 billion a year to medical tourism, I don’t think of money first; I think of trust,” he added.
For Uche Okoye, it means not leaving your loved ones completely in the hands of a medical professional without asking questions.
Read also: Sustaining gains of Nigeria’s medical tourism reversal
“One thing I have learnt since losing my uncle at Usman Danfodio University Teaching Hospital (UDUTH) is to never leave your sick person in the hands of a healthcare giver 100 percent,” he noted.
“Always ask questions, investigate every drug administered, and take note of any side effects or reactions,” he added.
Common causes of medical harm, errors
The World Health Organisation (WHO) outlined four sources of medical harm/errors. These include organizational, human, technological, external, and patient-related factors.
“Disruptions in workflows, poor communication or breakdowns among healthcare providers, complexity of medical interventions, and inadequate or inefficient procedures could lead to medical harm of patients,” according to WHO.
“Also, poor patient health literacy or lack of adherence to medical procedures could lead to medical harm,” the report added.
Most importantly, the absence of safety policies, inconsistent regulations, as well as economic or financial pressures, can also lead to medical harm, according to WHO.
Way forward
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), the first principle of safety is “do no harm to your patients, no matter what.”
Emmanuel Oziuwa-John, chief executive of Salvus Emergency, also highlighted the need for real-time communication channels within and between hospitals, using technology, particularly during emergencies.
“It is important to have real-time communication channels within each department in a hospital to guarantee the efficient dissemination of information in real time, particularly during an emergency response,” he noted.
“Also, Nigeria needs to have a unified database that incorporates all hospitals across the country in real time for proper monitoring and evaluation,” he added.
