By Promise Oluwarotimi, Akure
Governor Lucky Orimisan Aiyedatiwa of Ondo State has ordered an investigation into the death of a woman who died after giving birth to quintuplets at a private hospital in the state, while also donating N2 million to support the care of the newborn babies.
The governor, represented by the Commissioner for Women Affairs and Social Development, Dr Seun Osamaye, visited the bereaved family at Netcare Multispeciality Hospital and assured them that the state government would stand by them during the difficult period.
The tragic incident, which occurred shortly after the successful delivery of the five babies, has generated concern over maternal healthcare and the management of high-risk pregnancies in the state.
Speaking during the visit, Dr Osamaye said Governor Aiyedatiwa was deeply saddened by the woman’s death and had directed that immediate support and proper care be provided for the surviving babies.
According to her, the N2 million donation was part of the government’s efforts to ease the burden on the family and ensure the children receive adequate care.
“The Governor recognises the need for a nurturing environment for children who have lost their mother, and the government will continue to stand by the family during this difficult time,” she said.
Dr Osamaye disclosed that plans were already underway to move the babies to a specialised facility once they become stable enough for continued medical attention and support.
She stressed the importance of proper management of high-risk pregnancies, noting that the unfortunate incident highlights the need for timely referrals and proactive medical intervention.
“Addressing high-risk pregnancies is very crucial. This unfortunate incident again highlights the need for careful monitoring, proactive intervention and timely referrals where necessary,” she added.
The commissioner also urged hospitals to always prioritise referrals in complicated pregnancies to prevent avoidable deaths.
Also speaking, the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Health, Dr Adiji Ayodele Ojo, confirmed that the state government had commenced investigation into the circumstances surrounding the woman’s death.
According to him, “Necessary machinery has been set in motion to investigate the causes of the incident so that immediate actions can follow the findings and improve maternal healthcare safety in the state.”
Earlier, the paediatrician in charge of the babies, Dr Korede Oluwatuyi, described the birth of the quintuplets as initially exciting before it turned tragic with the loss of the mother.
He explained that the hospital monitored both the mother and babies closely throughout the process and took proactive steps to ensure their wellbeing.
Dr Oluwatuyi, however, revealed that the hospital had recommended referral to either the Federal Medical Centre or the Specialist Hospital in Ondo because of the complexity of the pregnancy.
“We actually recommended referral because of the complexity of the pregnancy, but referral decisions can sometimes be complicated by patients’ rights and family choices,” he said.
