Nurse’s Negligence Causes Woman’s Amputation

Space FM, Sunyani- The alleged negligence of a Nursing Officer at the Nsoatre Community Health Centre, has led to the amputation of the wrist of 62-year old Madam Abenaa Asiedu, at Nsoatre near Sunyani in the Brong-Ahafo region.

The nurse, Nana Afia Akoma, who injected the old woman’s wrist, graduated from the Nursing Training College in 2005, is said to be a family member of the victim and that the family has resolved not to take any legal action against the hospital and the nurse.

Narrating her ordeal to Space FM in Sunyani, Madam Abenaa Asiedu said about a month, ago she visited the health centre for treatment after experiencing slight body pains.

The woman said after she had been diagnosed, by the medical officer in charge of the clinic, Madam Constance S. Peprah, she was asked to go for injection.

She stressed that when she was being injected, she felt a sensation in her palm and informed the nurse.

“I told the nurse the pains I was going through but she ignored and rather asked me whether I was dizzy and I responded in the negative”, she said.

After the injection, she was made to rest at the center for a while, but when she woke up, she still felt the heat in the palm and had to be conveyed back home in a vehicle.

After three days the injected part began swelling, compelling her to revisit the health centre to see the medical officer who diagnosed her earlier.

She said the officer gave her a referral note to the regional hospital in Sunyani for further treatment.

According to the woman, the doctor at the regional hospital told her that although there was nothing wrong with the bones, the flesh around the injected part was damaged and the only option was to amputate her wrist.

“The doctor gave me some medicine to be used for three days preceding the amputation. During the period, he asked me to visit the Nsoatre Health Center to dress the wound”, she explained. Madam Asiedu said when she went to have her wound dressed; it took so long a time before she was attended to adding that she therefore decided to apply some traditional medicine.

Madam Peprah, who doubles as the Senior Midwife Officer at the center, confirmed the incident but was quick to add that the damage might have occurred due to the application of the traditional herbs insisting that traditional herbs do not go with orthodox medicine.

The Senior Midwife said although the health center sympathizes with the victim and her family, they cannot be totally held responsible for the plight of the woman saying that injecting the wrong vein sometimes occur but with minimal consequences. “In this instance, the application of the herbs might have caused the problem”, she defended.

The Sunyani Municipal Director of Health Services, Dr David Opare said that he has been informed about the incident and that he is investigating the matter.The health director has in the meantime visited the victim and her family to express sympathy.