The tragic and untimely death of Adachukwu Nwosu Mary-Theresa, a 300L student who was studying Social Works at the University of Port Harcourt (UniPort), has sparked outrage and grief among her family, friends, loved ones, and coursemates.
Adachukwu, a 19-year-old vibrant young woman, was a sickle cell patient who succumbed to the consequences of medical negligence at the University of Port Harcourt Teaching Hospital (UPTH) after what could only be described as a horrifying display of indifference and carelessness by the hospital staff.
It all began when Adachukwu suffered a severe sickle cell crisis and was rushed to UPTH, having been transferred from Lulu Briggs Medical Centre.
The attending doctors at UPTH informed her family that she urgently needed a blood transfusion. With the situation dire, payments were made to purchase blood, and the necessary steps were taken to save her life.
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However, amidst the chaos, one of the blood bags mysteriously went missing. It was reported by a medical personnel, that the already purchased blood bag was stolen, and no identity was linked to the theft.
Time was of the essence in the life of Adachukwu and yet vital resources were vanishing in an environment that should have been focused on saving lives.
As Adachukwu’s condition worsened, her coursemates from UniPort, in a bid to help, stepped forward to donate their own blood, hoping to stabilize her. Despite these acts of kindness and sacrifice, the doctors and nurses at UPTH inexplicably delayed the transfusion.
According to witnesses, the medical staff claimed to be “occupied with other pressing matters,” showing a shocking disregard for the urgency of Adachukwu’s condition.
When one of the nurses was confronted about the critical state of the patient, she reportedly responded with indifference, asking, “Should I divide myself into two?”
As the minutes turned into hours, the young woman’s life slipped away. Her death was not only the result of her sickle cell crisis but also the consequence of a healthcare system that failed her when she needed it most.
The family, alongside her friends and coursemates from UniPort, demand justice—not just for Adachukwu, but for all the other patients who may have suffered similar fates.
If no action is taken, how many more lives will be lost before the system changes? Medical negligence is not only a breach of professional duty; it is a violation of the basic human right to health and dignity.
