Cross River shuts illegal maternity clinic over patient’s death

The Cross River State Government has permanently sealed the Safe Hand’s Maternity Clinic in Calabar, following the death of a patient who underwent surgery at the facility. The State Task Force on Health Quality and Anti-Quackery took decisive action after uncovering multiple violations of healthcare regulations.

Dr. Dan Abubakar, chairman of the task force, expressed grave concern over the clinic's conditions, describing them as "completely unacceptable" and a "serious threat to public health and safety." He stated that facilities operating under such circumstances are "potential death traps." The unscheduled inspection was prompted by a petition linking the clinic to the patient's death.

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What we found here is completely unacceptable. Facilities operating under these conditions are potential death traps and have no place in a healthcare system that prioritises patient safety and quality service delivery.

Investigations revealed that the clinic, owned by Mrs. Inyang Ekeng, a Community Health Extension Officer, was operating out of a converted three-bedroom apartment. This space had been transformed into a six-bed maternity ward, but crucially, it lacked any licensed nurses. Surgical procedures were reportedly performed by Dr. Sunday Abeng, a registrar at the University of Calabar Teaching Hospital, in an environment deemed poorly equipped and unsuitable for such interventions.

Further infractions included operating beyond its approved scope of practice, admitting an abandoned stroke patient despite lacking the necessary capacity, and a general absence of essential operational licenses. The inspection also highlighted inadequate consulting rooms, poor ventilation, a lack of staff and patient records, unhygienic conditions, deficient waste management systems, and the employment of unqualified personnel. The government emphasized that such practices have no place in a healthcare system prioritizing patient safety and quality service delivery.

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We found a clinic owned by Mrs. Inyang Ekeng, a Community Health Extension Officer operating from a converted three-bedroom apartment that had been transformed into a six-bed maternity ward without any licensed nurses on its staff and surgical procedures were being carried out by Dr. Sunday Abeng, a registrar with the University of Calabar Teaching Hospital. Such an environment is poorly equipped and unsuitable for such medical interventions.