A family in Enugu has accused the University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital (UNTH), Ituku-Ozalla, of gross negligence and administrative lapses that allegedly led to the death of their relative, Mrs. Charity Unachukwu, following a tragic accident. The incident, narrated by her sister, Mrs. Phina Unachukwu Ezeagwu, has sparked outrage and renewed concerns about the state of emergency care in Nigerian public hospitals.
According to the account, Charity was involved in a motor accident and initially received first aid in a private hospital in Enugu. Due to suspected internal injuries, she was referred to the National Orthopaedic Hospital, Enugu, but doctors there suspected a ruptured spleen and redirected her to the Enugu State University Teaching Hospital (Parklane). On arrival, her family was informed that the emergency unit had been temporarily relocated to the New Market Road extension due to renovations.
At Parklane, the family said they met other accident victims awaiting doctors who had allegedly been called hours earlier without response. Desperate for help, they moved Charity to Memphis Hospital, Trans-Ekulu, where a CT scan cleared her of neurological damage but confirmed critically low blood levels. Doctors there began cross-matching for transfusion but advised she be taken to UNTH for full treatment.
By midnight, the family embarked on the risky drive along the notorious Ozalla road to UNTH. On arrival at about 1 a.m. on September 20, they alleged that the attending doctor, identified as Dr. Eze, refused to admit the bleeding patient, citing lack of available beds. Despite the family bringing in a mattress and later a hospital bed, the patient was not admitted until 3 a.m., after prolonged delay.
Even then, treatment was further stalled by bureaucratic bottlenecks. Laboratory staff reportedly refused to process urgent blood samples until their official resumption hours later, despite “emergency” being clearly written on the forms. The family said multiple trips were made between the ward and lab, only to be told at different times to return by 6 a.m., 7 a.m., and eventually 9 a.m.
Meanwhile, Charity’s condition deteriorated. At the ultrasound and radiography units, her family alleged further negligence, claiming porters were uncooperative, doctors delayed, and one radiologist declined to attend to her, saying his shift had ended. Oxygen supply was allegedly interrupted during transfers, worsening her fragile state.
By midday, more than 12 hours after arriving at UNTH, the family said blood transfusion had still not commenced. They claimed that blood samples earlier taken were rejected for clotting, forcing additional draws from the already weak patient. A female doctor on duty reportedly admitted she had no control over the laboratory, insisting that departments operated independently.
At about 1:30 p.m., Charity began experiencing severe respiratory distress and sweating. The doctor requested a new oxygen mask, which the family purchased, and later recommended a transfer to the Intensive Care Unit (ICU). However, according to the family, the transfer was delayed because the doctor insisted on writing a report first. By 1:45 p.m., Charity passed away, without having received the urgent blood transfusion that her condition required.
Her grieving sister, Phina, condemned the hospital’s handling of the case, describing UNTH as “a den of negligence” where staff operate without accountability. She lamented the absence of effective emergency response systems, the poor state of facilities, and the lack of coordination among medical personnel. She added that while Nigerian leaders seek treatment abroad for minor ailments, citizens are left to die needlessly at home due to systemic healthcare failures.
“This country killed my sister,” she wrote in her statement. “She was a humble, loving woman, but Nigeria happened to us. Nothing is working at UNTH—not the laboratories, not the staff, not even the toilets. We tried our best, but negligence robbed her of her life.” The family has called for widespread attention to the incident, urging authorities to investigate and address the persistent failures that continue to cost innocent lives in Nigerian hospitals.
