Calabar prison inmate who gave birth to twins dies

An inmate of the Calabar Prisons who was delivered of twins at the General Hospital Calabar on April 17, has died at the University of Calabar Teaching Hospital, two days after delivery, due to postnatal complications.

This was disclosed by the prison authority in a statement by the Public Relations Officer of the State Prison Command, ASP Effanga Etim, on Wednesday in Calabar.

“The Nigerian Prisons Service, Cross River Command, is pained over the loss of the said inmate after a combined effort by the prison authority, the Cross River State Government and medical personnel in the General Hospital, Calabar,” the statement read.

Etim noted that the inmate delivered twins: a boy and a girl, through the intervention of the Cross River Commissioner for Health and the prison authorities in providing funds needed for the Caesarean Section.

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“However, due to complications arising from the Caesarean Section, she was referred to UCTH for further management, where she died on 19th April, 2019.

“We assure the public that the health and welfare of prisoners remain our top priority,” Etim said.

“The Command wishes to state emphatically that, for the past four years, there has not been any delivery in the Calabar prison infirmary.

“Albeit, the infirmary is well equipped to handle health emergencies that may arise, with nine medical experts comprising of a medical doctor, registered nurses/midwives and community health workers.

“We also have back-up medical personnel stationed in the State Prison Headquarters. Any emergency beyond the infirmary is referred to government hospitals outside the prison.”

He explained that the deceased was remanded by a High Court in Calabar on November 5, 2018 with six month-old pregnancy for the offence of child stealing.

“While in prison, she was under regular ante-natal care at the General Hospital, Calabar.

“On 17th of April, 2019 by 1:30pm when her labour began, she was admitted in the same hospital and a Caesarean Section was carried out on her,” he said.

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