The last minutes of broadcaster Chaz B who died in 2014 by Roselin Chukuma (widow)

Chinyere Roselin Chukwuma, the widow of late ace broadcaster, Charles Bruce Chukuma, popularly known as Chaz B, who was the host of the radio program 'Sharing Life Issues with ChazB' who died allegedly through medical negligence at a Lagos Hospital on the 22nd of November 2014, is talking about his demise for the first time. She wrote a minute by minute account of what transpired, and is demanding an investigation into the cause of her husband's death. What she wrote after the cut...

My husband called me at about 6:40AM, Friday the 21^st of November 2014, from work. He asked me to come and pick him up, that he was not feeling too good. I left with the driver to get him. When I got there, he was too uncomfortable, and he asked me to take him home. But on our way home, I noticed that he was in pains, so I asked the driver to reverse the car and head instead to the hospital (St. Nicholas).

 On reaching there, we met Judith the receptionist. I asked if there was a Doctor around. This was around 7PM. She said yes and after some time we were asked to go in to Room 2. Right there we met a young Doctor called Dr. Ogidigben Kevwe.  He asked a few questions that I answered while my husband was wallowing in pains. He (Kevwe) opened an emergency file, because according to him, my husband’s file was locked up in Dr. Bamgboye’s office and no one has access to that office. I told Dr. Kevwe that my husband had incissional hernia surgery done a few months back at the same hospital, August to be precise and it was performed by one Dr. Mohan an India man, and Dr. Balogun at St. Nicholas Hospital. He started to examine him. He then left us in his office and said he was coming back. He came back after some minutes and said he was trying to reach Dr. Balogun from the reception, but he is not getting through. So I used my husband’s phone and dialed Balogun and got through. At this point, I gave the phone to Dr. Kevwe and he started explaining to Dr. Balogun, what he thought was the problem. Balogun on the other end asked if my husband was in pains, and Kevwe said yes. Dr. Kevwe told Dr. Balogun that he was suspecting intestinal obstruction. Dr. Balogun asked if there was any swelling around where the incision was done, but Dr.Kevwe said no. Balogun asked if there was any reddish sign around the same area, and Kewe said no. So Dr. Kevwe suggested giving him antibiotics, but Balogun said that they have to be careful what they give him, since he is a post kidney transplant patient. Balogun asked them to give him a particular injection twice to ease the pains, and he said that they should observe him till the next morning. So I left to go get him what he had asked for (his tea and his stockings). On my way around Bonny Camp, I got a call from a strange number, when I picked up; it was Dr. Kevwe, on the other end. He asked me to turn back to come pick up my husband, and I asked why? He (Kevwe) said that my Husband is feeling much better, and wants to go home. I asked the driver to reverse and head back to the hospital. And on getting there, I went in and asked the Dr. again why he wants me to take him home. He repeated once again that he feels much better and I asked Kevwe if he was asking me to take him home because he thinks he feels better or that the hospital doesn’t have a bed for him. I asked this because the nurse had mentioned earlier that she needed to check for bed space. Kevwe at this point told me that my Husband would be fine, he asked me to take my Husband home and bring him the following morning. Meanwhile, before then, Kewe wrote a prescription of drugs for my husband which I took to the pharmacist and when the lady there saw it, she asked which Dr. I saw. I told her that it was Dr. Kewe.  She moved over to the other side and called the Dr’s office.  They both argued about the drug that he wrote, she then gave me just1 tablet of Exforge. When my husband got up from the Dr’s bed, he staggered and I held him and asked if he’s fine. The Dr. said that it’s the injection that was given to him that he would be fine. So I took him home.

We got home. And just about 15minutes after, my husband said he felt like throwing up. I brought a bowl to him, and he vomited and he felt a bit better. He slept for some time and got up in an excruciating pain. Immediately I jumped into my clothes, and then called Dr. Balogun, to say that we are on our way back to the hospital. He said no problem that the Dr. will be waiting for me. I asked which Dr.? And he said the Dr. is their senior surgeon by name Dr. Fadiran. Balogun said that Dr Fadiran was the Dr. on call. We got to the hospital in less than 20minutes; my husband came down from the car himself. He walked into the hospital by himself before he was wheeled into the ER. Then came Dr. Kevwe, and I asked him about the senior surgeon, and he told me that he would be coming very soon. I wasn’t too happy with that, as I had mentioned to Dr. Balogun that my husband was in serious pains. I expected to see  a consultant like he said. Kevwe started by trying to put him on drip that took forever, as he was unable to successfully get his veins, while my husband was anguishing in pain.  My husband kept telling them (DR. Kevwe and the nurse) that he wants to throw up or use the rest room and he would be fine. He kept saying that if he throws up he will be fine. Meanwhile, Dr. Kevwe was taking instructions on phone from Dr. Fadiran. This was when I asked when the Dr. would come. I kept asking, “When will the doctor come?”  And Dr. Kevwe said Dr. Fadiran asked him to get my entire husband’s information. DR. Kevwe told me that they are waiting for the Radiologist and the Anesthesiologist and none of these people showed up.


My husband kept on saying that he wants to throw up. But then, Dr. Kewe asked the nurse to give him an injection, I asked what the injection was for? And he said it will stop him from vomiting. He became so uncomfortable and was losing his breath.  They put him on oxygen, but I guess he was already choking. Meanwhile, Kevwe was still taking instructions from Dr. Fadiran on the phone.  At this time, he started gasping for air.  Meanwhile, before then, another Dr. showed up. I don’t know his name but he’s average in height and dark complexioned. He inserted a suction tube into his mouth, but I guess he was two hours or more late with that. Because if that was done when I brought him to the hospital that morning, he would have been here with me today.

If Dr. Fadiran was at the hospital, even after he was told that it was an emergency; my husband would have been here with me. If the anesthesiologist was at the hospital, he probably would have been here with me. If the radiologist was around on that morning to at least see what was happening inside of him, he probably would have been here with me. If Dr. Kevwe knew exactly what he was doing that morning without taking instructions from Dr. Fadiran on the phone, with an emergency case right in front of him, my husband would have been here. My husband died of total negligence on the part of St. Nicholas Hospital, and I know it. Like I said earlier, the Dr. was 2 hours plus late with the suction, because at this time, the nurse was already calling my husband’s name, shouting “Mr. Charles, Mr. Charles!” He was given 4 adrenaline injections. The drip wasn’t going at all, all this while lest I forget. I watched my husband struggled to breath. I watched him fight for his life and I was right there when he died. And even though they were busy with C.P.R,  I knew when he passed on, because immediately he stopped struggling, fluid started gushing out of his mouth and nose, I knew that was it. That was the same fluid that was choking him. If there was a senior consultant or surgeon at the hospital as at when I brought him, he probably would have been helped. In between all this, Dr. Kevwe at a time said to Dr. Fadiran on phone that he should come now as the patient is in a critical condition. He said to the same Dr. Fadiran that 11 O’clock might be too late. I brought my husband  at about 6AM to St. Nicholas Hospital and he died at about 9.30AM without receiving prompt and adequate care.

Human life cannot continue to be lost soo cheaply in Nigerian Hospital, people must be made to account for their actions as professionals hence I have contacted my Lawyers to investigate the cause of death as he has died with our dreams, aspirations, and vision and planned future together.

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