OPINION: SIX MONTHS AFTER UCH IBADAN INSISTED ON NO NIQAB IN HOSPITAL
Read Time:5 Minute, 41 Second
By Amb. Ibrahim Agunbiade
It was outrageous on Wednesday, January 31, 2024, as one of the wards in the University College Hospital Ibadan refused treatment for a sick newborn baby, over his mother’s refusal to remove her Niqab.
This Incident brought about responses and counter-responses from different stakeholders and individuals. Some wished the incident should be settled within the hospital environment, while some called for the suspension of those officers involved in it.
A petition was also written to the Coordinating Minister for Health and Social Welfare, Professor Muhammad Ali Pate, on the issue, demanding to look into the absurd event within his jurisdiction.
Father of the child, while expressing dismay at the revelations, said on his Facebook page:
He was made to pay some bills before those attending to them informed his wife that she could not be allowed access to the ward with her veil.
He said; “I don’t know how to put this but I can’t let it go. They just rejected my 4-day-old baby this night around 11:30 pm at the emergency children’s ward of University College Hospital, Ibadan-UCH just because his mother and our neighbor who followed us there put on a veil.
“The most painful part is that they didn’t tell us initially until after I paid some bills at Universal Laboratory which is ₦15,800 and I was told to come and fill out a refund form in the morning to take back my money.
“It was after I made the payment at the laboratory and I was trying to go and get other prescriptions in the treatment sheet I received a call from my wife that she was asked to remove both her hijab and veil before they can attend to my 4-day-old baby.
“The other member of their staff in the laboratory tried his possible best to appeal to them at the emergency children’s ward to attend to the baby but they insisted that it’s either we comply with their rule or we leave for another hospital. I’m writing this at 1:00 am and I’m sad.”
In the video attached to the post, the father was heard asking for the reason why the baby had to be rejected because the mother was on a veil.
However, the hospital management after 5 days of the incident, responded to the allegation, through the hospital Public Relations Officer, Funmi Adetuyibi.
She said the purported report was not only misleading but also a falsehood aimed at tarnishing the reputation of the hospital. Which has remained steadfast in providing healthcare to individuals without discrimination based on tribe, religion, or ethnicity.
She said “The University College Hospital, Ibadan is a National Legacy which serves both Nigerians and foreigners, embracing patients of all ages, genders, and socio-economic status. It is paramount to state here that one of the Hospital’s mantras is “patient comfort” which we have adhered to very strictly.
“We want to state unequivocally that the University College Hospital, Ibadan does not reject patients on whatever consideration that might be put forward. We serve all patients that come to the hospital with equal attention, be they Hindus, Christians, Muslims, and other Faiths including (Atheists). Within the Hospital premises, we have a Mosque led by a Chief Imam, and many of our Doctors, Nurses, Students, and Staff choose to wear their Niqabs and gowns with Capes without any discrimination against them.
Mrs. Adetuyibi further said, however, there are certain areas within the Hospital where vulnerable patients are admitted, and these include Intensive Care Unit (ICUs), Neonatal Wards (I.e C1-2nd), Special Care Baby Unit (SCBU), Paediatrics Intensive Care Unit (PICU), Burn Unit ward, Theaters among others. Members of Staff (both Clinical and Non-Clinical), Patients, and their relations are restricted from wearing personal dresses in some areas of the Hospital to prevent the potential spread of infections, similarly for security purposes and proper identification because a patient covered up can carry another person’s baby away unnoticed.
“It is important to note that medical officers, non-medical staff, and patient relations, are not allowed to wear their regular home/casual dresses, or ward coats, in these locations. All these were being explained by the nurse on duty to the complainant.
“On behalf of the Management, Staff, Students, and our Teeming Patients, We wish to emphasize the importance of abiding by the Hospital’s rules and regulations as we continue to provide excellent healthcare services.
“For the avoidance of future occurrences, it is expedient for UCH management to look inward or out of the box in solving such a fundamental issue as this.Up till now, any Muslimah in Niqab, who came for her baby treatment in Neonatal Wards would rather put off her Niqab before granting permission for treatment, and if she refused, she automatically denied treatment for her child. These unprofessional acts must stop.
The fact that you have among your staff, Doctors, Nurses, and Students who according to you wear their Niqabs without any discrimination against them, shows that there is a very peaceful coexistence within the hospital and a very cordial relationship between the Hospital management and the Muslim Community in the hospital. This should be extended to the patient, who is been seen by the Niqab Doctors, Nurses, Staff, and Students within the hospital.Rejecting a sick baby simply because the mother of the baby wears a Niqab will certainly be regarded as a total violation of fundamental religious rights, thoughts, and conscience, which are prioritized in the Nigerian constitution.
There are well-known Health Institutions within and outside Nigeria that manage their Neonatal Wards peacefully with Niqab. Moreso in the affected ward in this case, which is C1-2nd all preventive measures against infections were written boldly on the wall including washing hands, changing footwear, and others. Excluding changing of clothes below the ankles or beyond the elbow, or disallowed of certain clothes.
According to number 6, 2018 of the Patient Bill of Rights(PBoR), which outlined 12 rights that patients are entitled to, championed by the Consumer Protection Council (CPC) and Federal Ministry of Health to protect the Nigerian patient and ease access to quality healthcare services. It stated that the patient had the Right to be treated with respect, regardless of gender, race, religion, ethnicity, allegations of crime, disability, or economic circumstances.
From my experience and findings in the neonatal ward, there is no scientific evidence of contamination occurring in the Neonatal Wards with apparel. What is known and scientifically documented is that STRICT HANDWASHING by healthcare workers and caregivers with observance of MINIMAL HANDLING is the most important intervention in limiting infection control in the Neonatal ward.
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