Akwa Ibom Ministry of Health Dismisses Viral Negligence Claims at Ikot Ekpene General Hospita
…Warns Against Turning Hospitals into Content Creation Arenas
The Akwa Ibom State Ministry of Health has dismissed as misleading a recent viral video alleging negligence by doctors and nurses at the General Hospital, Ikot Ekpene, insisting that medical staff on duty acted professionally and responsibly.
Speaking through the Permanent Secretary, Hospital Management Board, Dr Abraham Inyangudo, during a media briefing held on Monday, September 29, 2025, the Commissioner said that the claims were not only unfounded but also constituted a violation of the privacy rights of both healthcare providers and patients.
He warned the public against using hospitals as “amphitheatres for content creation,” stressing that such actions undermine the dignity of patients and the integrity of healthcare institutions.
According to him, the video, released on Saturday, September 27, by Ms. Idongesit Edet, showed her mother in the hospital’s Accident and Emergency Unit, where Ms. Edet accused healthcare workers of neglect and later shared the clip on social media, sparking widespread reactions.
He said that upon seeing the video, he directed the Director of Services, Hospital Management Board, Dr Boniface Effiong, to investigate the matter thoroughly, and it was discovered that Ms. Edet unlawfully entered the consulting room and recorded without authorization, breaching medical ethics and privacy rules.
Investigations also show that the medical records of the patient had received continuous attention, including laboratory tests, medications, and monitoring between 7:45 a.m. and 11:45 p.m. on the day of the incident, and while she was recording, staff continued to provide professional care despite the disturbance.
The Ministry revealed that by publishing the video, Ms. Edet disrupted the peace of the ward, embarrassed other patients, and damaged the reputation of the hospital.
He further explained that Ms. Edet had since made a public post apologizing for her behavior, and her family has equally apologized for her actions, disowning the video and acknowledging the embarrassment it caused.
He warned that any future acts of harassment, unauthorized recordings, or verbal and physical assaults on healthcare workers would attract prosecution in line with the National Health Act, while cautioning against turning health facilities into arenas for social media content creation.
“The law empowers healthcare institutions to protect staff from abuse; therefore, no individual will be allowed to violate the trust and privacy of patients or disrupt medical services without consequences,” he stated.
The Ministry urged members of the public to direct complaints through official avenues such as the Hospital Ombudsman, the Ministry of Health helplines, or the Permanent Secretary’s office, assuring that grievances would be addressed professionally within 72 hours.
Earlier in his remarks, the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Health, Dr Patrick Eshiet, commended the Governor of Akwa Ibom State, Pastor Umo Eno, describing him as a health-friendly leader who is committed to building a more effective and people-centered healthcare system. He noted that the Governor, through the dedication of the Health Commissioner, has been working tirelessly to revamp and reposition the sector for excellence.
Dr. Eshiet disclosed that the state government had declared a state of emergency in the health sector, a move aimed at strengthening service delivery. According to him, the measure will ensure the recruitment of over 2,000 additional healthcare workers, the equipping of facilities across the state, and the enforcement of accountability where professional misconduct is established.
Speaking further, he hinted that a separate inquiry and investigation into a maternity case at the same hospital where a pregnant woman and her newborn reportedly died due to alleged negligence by doctors has been concluded, with findings set to be published soon.
He stressed that Akwa Ibom hospitals will continue to serve as safe spaces for care and healing.
