Several residents of Abiriba, located in Ohafia Local Government Area of Abia State, have been hospitalised after reportedly reacting to medications distributed during a free medical outreach. The incident, which has raised serious concerns about the safety and regulation of such events, has prompted an investigation by the Abia State Ministry of Health.
The state’s Commissioner for Health, Dr. Ogbonnaya Uche, confirmed the hospitalisations in a statement issued in Umuahia. According to the commissioner, the hospitalisations were a result of suspected adverse drug reactions following the medical outreach.
“The ministry is deeply concerned by the consequences of unauthorised outreach,” Dr. Uche said, adding that healthcare personnel were working diligently to stabilise and treat those affected. “Residents should exercise caution regarding organisers of unapproved healthcare events,” he warned.
The statement also revealed that the organisers of the outreach had failed to obtain the necessary approvals from the health ministry, making the event an unauthorised medical intervention. Dr. Uche emphasised that such unauthorised medical outreaches were not only unsafe but also illegal.
In the wake of the incident, the Ministry of Health has issued a strong warning to residents and organisers of medical events in the state. The ministry has stated that, moving forward, any unauthorised medical outreach will be subject to prosecution in order to prevent further occurrences of this nature.
“Unauthorised medical outreaches and healthcare events will henceforth attract prosecution,” the statement read, underscoring the ministry’s commitment to regulating healthcare activities in the state.
In response to the incident, the Abia State Ministry of Health has launched a thorough investigation to determine the cause of the adverse reactions and to identify those responsible for the unapproved outreach. The investigation aims to ensure accountability and prevent similar situations from happening in the future.
While the investigation is ongoing, health officials continue to monitor the condition of those affected, providing necessary medical care to those hospitalised. The ministry has also urged the public to remain cautious when participating in healthcare events that have not been properly authorised or regulated.
