The National Association of Nigeria Nurses and Midwives (NANNM), Lagos State chapter, revealed on Saturday that the individual reportedly arrested for injecting the late singer, Ilerioluwa Aloba, popularly known as Mohbad, is not a registered nurse.
This was disclosed in a press statement signed by Toba Odumosu, the state secretary of the association.
The group also advised the media to confirm people’s qualifications and professional status before branding them as healthcare practitioners.
Recall that 27-year-old Mohbad died on September 12, 2023.
According to Mohbad’s father, Joseph Aloba, the singer died after receiving an injection from an auxiliary nurse on September 14.
Aloba said, “According to what I heard from people, I do not believe in that. The only thing I can think of is maybe this auxiliary nurse that used to treat people, which is a very bad idea. I do not know what kind of level the woman is at.
“They said they called her to give him an injection, and that is a very bad idea, and that injection can result in any length. He had wounds, but I do not know the kind of wounds he had.”
While expressing condolences to the late singer’s family, the Lagos State Council of NANNM stated that professionalism is required in reporting and conducting the ongoing investigation into the circumstances surrounding Mohbad’s death.
“The National Association of Nigeria Nurses and Midwives, Lagos State Council, expresses its deepest condolences to the family and associates of the late musician, Ilerioluwa Aloba, popularly known as Mohbad, during this difficult time. Our thoughts and prayers are with them as we mourn his tragic passing.
“We fully support the ongoing investigation into the circumstances surrounding his death and urge the relevant authorities to leave no stone unturned in the pursuit of justice for him.
“However, we must stress the importance of professionalism in reporting and conducting this investigation. NANNM is closely monitoring the situation with keen interest. Our preliminary investigations indicate that the individual reportedly taken into custody by the police for providing care to Mohbad is not a registered nurse.
“We emphasise the critical need to verify the qualifications and professional status of individuals before labelling them as healthcare professionals,” the statement read in part.
The council expressed sorrow that Nigeria’s healthcare system is beset by substantial regulatory issues, resulting in the presence of untrained individuals performing medical tasks for which they have not been trained.
“In Nigeria, to be recognised as a nurse, one must complete a rigorous five-year Bachelor of Nursing Science programme at a university, followed by an additional year of internship. Alternatively, one can undergo training at an accredited school or college of nursing and become registered and licensed by the Nursing and Midwifery Council of Nigeria.
“We wish to clarify that the term ‘Auxiliary Nurse’ has no place within Nigeria’s healthcare system or its laws. An individual is either a qualified nurse or an unqualified individual performing tasks beyond their competence.
“Furthermore, we call on the investigating authorities and the media to exercise caution and accuracy in their reporting during this investigation. We will not tolerate any misrepresentation of nurses or the nursing profession. We demand that all media outlets that inaccurately reported the arrest of a nurse take immediate corrective action to rectify their stories”, it added.