Hope Builders, Douala,………………31 years old Monique Koumate has been abandoned to die alongside her unborn twins outside the Ashanti- Diamant maternity in state-run Laquintinie hospital in Douala, Saturday March 12, four days after the celebration of the international women’s Day.
The deceased, is alleged to have been refused medical attention because her relatives could not afford to pay for a cesarean operation.
Public Health Minister,
Andre Mama Fouda
Monique’s dead twin
During a press briefing by Minister of Public health,MAMA FOUDA, after the incident, the Minister said Monique died before arriving the Hospital And that the midwife told the relations that the babies were dead since the Mother is dead .He went further to sat that it was at the mortuary that Monique’s relatives together with the mortuary attendant decided to operate Monique.
- But according to the Littoral Governor, Ivaha Dibua, they cannot remain indifferent to cries of family but that its just an incident like many others and that people should not spread false information on Social media.The Governor in a press conference on the matter later,heavily attended by top officials including attorney General for Littoral,said investigations have been opened to know the the real version and appropriate measures will be taken
Monique’s relative operating her dead body
Following an interview by Equinox TV, MOKUM MBAH the husband of deceased, on their way to the Laquintini hospital from a health center which could not handle their case,the taxi driver who transported them, said from look of things,the woman is dead,but the family members who accompanied the 31 year old lady said her stomach was kicking,meaning that the babies were struggling to come out. On their arrival at the Ashanti- Diamant maternity in state-run Laquintinie hospital in Doual,newly inaugurated few weeks back, the nurses on duty sent them to the mortuary,that the lady was already dead. At the mortuary, the mortuary attendants said the babies are still kicking and that they don’t bring pregnant dead women to the mortuary,that they should take the lady back to the maternity building. Reports say they made several rounds,at the time the stomach was kicking .
The final round the doors to the maternity were closed by the nurses.That is why they had to lay the lady infront of the doors.
One of her helpless relatives was forced to use a razor blade to tear open her aunt’s womb to rescue the babies, following the advice of one hospital attendants, while some hospital staff, including nurses stood by; watching the young lady and other relatives weep in agony as she carried out the ‘operation’. Both babies are said to have been removed alive but died shortly.
This incident actually led to a street protest in the economic capital as thousands of people demonstrated in front of the Laquintinie Hospital, requesting for justice of the deceased and her twin babies. the protesters are demanding that the director of the hospital and the nurses on duty be sacked.
It is against this backdrop that theone CPDM Member of Parliament, Honorable Peter William MANDIO of Mbam & Inoubou, after recounting other similar incidents, has called on the Minister of Public Health, Andre Mama Fouda to resign, saying enough is enough.
In his own words, the MP said, “How awful! Those responsible for this crime syndicate are still not punished. I’m shocked, I have tears on hearing the scandal that just happened this March 12 at Laquintine hospital Douala, where the young KOUMATE Monique aged 31 and carrying a pregnancy of two babies passed away because there was no doctor at the maternity, no qualified nurse to give birth. Overtaken by events, her sisters who ran to save the lives of the two babies remained stuck in the belly and became butchers.
All three died. Unbearable! I accuse Minister André Mama Fouda on being complicit in all this drama. Because he nominates incompetent and inhuman people. Because he refuses to denounce and punish these criminals in white jackets, these carpet traders in laboratories, these death merchants. I demand that Minister André Mama Fouda resigns. I demand the dismissals of Mr. DISSONGO jean II – Director of Laquintine hospital in Douala, Mr. KOKI Ndombo Paul – Director of the Chantal Biya Foundation and Mr. BELLE PRISO – Director of Douala General Hospital and the director of the hospital of Bonassama.
I also ask that all the doctors and nurses of Douala and Yaounde involved in these four cases should be all arrested. And justice shall be done. Finally, it is urgent that the President of the Republic convenes the general public health staff in Cameroon. Our security depends on it.”