Pregnant Woman Dies Under Unclear Circumstances at Solidarity Hospital Buea

By Njong Shey 

The family of a 37-year-old woman, Osake Joso Philippa, who died during childbirth, is blaming Solidarity Hospital for negligence.

Joso, who was also a teacher at Kingston Comprehensive Secondary School Bokwaongo, is said to have died recently.

According to information that reached MMI, Joso was taken to the hospital by her husband, Emange, and her mother.

While they waited for her to give birth, our source said she died under unclear circumstances.

It is believed she was first taken to go through the normal delivery process before the medical staff resolved on a C-section.

“We are constrained to hold that taking her through the normal delivery process before the C/S is the immediate cause of her death,” a family member told MMI.

“She had lost much blood and all her strength in the process. What makes this worse is that she had earlier signed to undergo a C/S, but the doctor who attended to her decided to induce and dilate her to labour.”

According to the source, the medical team did not bother to explain what happened to the family when Joso was pronounced dead.

“Joso attended her antenatal preparation at this health facility. Given her age (37) and some earlier complications during her pregnancy, was it not just ok for the hospital and staff to manage and give her the best?” the source said.

The management of Solidarity Hospital reportedly showed no remorse, and was only interested in the family settling the bills before the body was released.

This dragged on from 6:30 pm to 11:30 pm that day.

Child Survives

Even though Joso Philippa tragically passed away, the child survived.

The child is being observed at the Buea Regional Hospital. But the family feels solidarity Hospital needs to take responsibility for their daughter’s death.

“The baby boy, who was said to be doing fine, was on drip. When asked why the baby was on a drip, they gave the excuse that the sugar level of the child was low,” our source said.

To the family, sugar level means energy, and if the child is being treated for that, it means something happened during the birth process.

“Why did the baby’s sugar (energy) level drop if he was not stressed?” they questioned.

“The baby is now doing well while the mother’s corpse has been preserved in the morgue.” MMI was told.

Matter Reported To Buea Judicial Police

According to Joso’s family, this is not the first time such a thing has happened at Solidarity Hospital, and as such, they are taking legal action.

Last Tuesday, as we learnt, the same thing that happened to Joso happened to another woman too.

Although Joso will never return to her family or Kingston School, the family wants to end all such happenings at Solidarity Hospital.

“We have laid a complaint at the judicial police, and an investigation has been opened. We seek justice for Joso, especially for the baby and her family and those who loved her,” MMI was told.

However, despite all the allegations, MMI has not heard from Solidarity Hospital.

Also, we can’t confirm whether the police have opened an investigation or not.