Cameroon Medical Council Opens Comprehensive Investigation Into Death Of Three Premature Babies At A Douala Hospital

“The Council is committed to ensuring that such an incident does not recur”

The Cameroon Medical Council has embarked on a comprehensive investigation to find out the real cause or causes of the death of three premature neonates, whose mother was rushed to the Logbaba District Hospital in Douala, in the night of Tuesday, January 21 – Wednesday, January 22, 2025.  This was announced in a press release that the the Cameroon Medical Council put out this week.

It should be noted that the death of the premature babies caused a fight at the Logbaba District Hospital the next day, leading to the intervention of the gendarmerie that made some arrests. What happened at the Logbaba District Hospital that nigh of January 21 breaking 22, was quite a disturbing incident. It is for this reason that the Cameroon Medical Council has launched an investigation into the incident.  “The Council is committed to ensuring that such an incident does not recur”, so states the press release signed by the President of the Cameroon Medical Council, Dr FONKOUA Rodolphe,

The Allegations And Scandals 

It should be noted that premature triplets were each six and a half months old. The pregnant mother of the three triplets, Madam Kameni, was reportedly brought to the hospital at about 2 .55 am in a critical state.  The medical team on duty that night, succeeded to bring out the three premature neonates, But it is not clear as to what happened next. Shocking pictures appeared on the social media with the triplets put inside a carton instead of inside a neonatal incubator. The family of Madam Kameni cried out that there was no neonatal incubator at the Logbaba Distritct Hospital (Douala V), whereas the Director of the hospital had publicly announced that the health unit had incubators. The premature triplets, that were in critical condition, had to be taken to the Laquintinie Hospital (regional hospital) in Douala 1 that night. One of the premature neonates died on the way to the Laquintinie Hospital that night, while the other two followed soon after arrival at the regional hospital that night. The mother of the late premature triplets who was in criminal condition, was admitted at the Logbaba District Hospital, and did not even know what was happening.

The next day, the family of the lady who lost her premature triplets, stormed Logbaba District Hospital, accusing the medical personnel of being responsible for the death of the triplets. The situation degenerated into a physical confrontation launched by the family members of the lady, against personnel of the hospital. The gendarmerie was called in, and a number of arrests were made. The scandal went viral on the social media.

The Hospital Director’s Own Side Of The Story

Meanwhile in an interview granted CRTV, the Director of the Logbaba District Hospital, gave an entirely different story about what happened. The Director said the accusations made by the family of Madam Kamemi, were based on ignorance. The Director instead blamed Madam Kameni and her family of medical negligence, and said  the state in which those premature triplets  were at the time the pregnant lady was rushed to the hospital that fateful night, was such that they could not have survived. But he said the medical personnel, in line with their professional ethics had to fight to the last minute. “Even if a terminally ill patient with cancer is brought to the hospital, we cannot fold our hands and watch him die. We have to fight to the last minute. And that was what we did in this case”.

The Director of the hospital showed CRTV some incubators in the hospital, in an attempt to debunk the allegation that there was no neonatal incubator to put the three premature neonates. But the Director could not explain why the three premature neonates were instead put in a carton at the hospital, if there were neonatal incubators available. The truth appears to lie in the press release of the Cameroon Medical Council, which states that: “The incident appears to have been precipitated by an insufficient availability of neonatal incubators”.

Surprisingly, the Minister of Public Health, Dr Manaouda Malachie, has so far not travelled to Douala following this scandalous incident at the Logbaba District Hospital. Perhaps he is waiting for the result of the investigation opened by the Cameroon Medical Council.

BELOW IS THE PRESS RELASE OF THE CAMEROON MEDICAL COUNCIL IN ITS ENTIRETY:

                           PRESS RELEASE OF THE CAMEROON MEDICAL COUNCIL

The Cameroon Medial Council has been deeply distressed to learn of the recent fatalities involving three premature neonates at the Logbaba District Hospital.

The incident is believed to have been precipitated by an insufficient availability of neonatal incubators. In this somber juncture, we extend our profound sympathies and heartfelt condolences to the bereaved families.

In response to this incident, the Cameroon Medical Council has initiated a comprehensive investigation to elucidate the circumstances surrounding this tragedy, to determine the relevant responsibilities, and to identify and rectify any deficiencies in the medical care provided.

The Council is committed to ensuring that such an incident does not reoccur. The Cameroon Medical Council reaffirms its unwavering commitment to safeguarding the safety and quality of healthcare services for all patients, with a particular focus on the most vulnerable populations.

To this end, he Council will collaborate closely with the pertinent authorities to augment the resources and enhance the medical equipment in healthcare facilities, thereby guaranteeing the provision of optimal quality care for every patient.

                                   THE PRESIDENT OF THE CMC

                                    Dr FONKOUA Rodolphe