Ondo Police Arrest Health Personnel Over Missing Placenta Of New Born Baby

By Ayodele Oni

Ondo State Police Command has arrested three persons,  a nurse, health assistant and security official in connection with a missing placenta at a community health centre.

The health  personnel are staff at Emure Ile Comprehensive Health Center in Owo Local Government.

Report said a concerned family had raised the alarm as the hospital workers failed to hand over the placenta after delivery, with the situation lingering for days claiming that a dog had devoured the organ.

The Baby’s parents are appealing to relevant government agencies to ensure justice is served on the matter.

After nine months of waiting, the Ijanusi family finally had a bouncing Baby girl at the comprehensive health center at Emure Ile. But the Joy accompanying the birth on Thursday 15th of June was short-lived.

Family members, neighbours and sympathizers who should be in celebration mood are all wearing long, sad faces at the family’s compound since the placenta’s whereabout is still unknown.

The baby’s Father, 23 year old Tunde and Mother Joy, are worried after health workers that took the delivery failed to give them the placenta of the new born in line with obtainable tradition.

The kids’ grandmothers Linda John and Mrs Funmilayo Ijanusi also suspect complicity from the health workers who they alleged of stealing the placenta.

For Mrs Ijanusi, the hospital officials’ claim that a dog entered the facility, carting away the placenta is unacceptable.

She added that the hospital personnel also persuaded the family to let go of the matter offering to discharge them without paying any bills.

The importance of the placenta to the family according to some community elders is enormous, they say it is the child’s glory hence dangerous to be in the custody of wrong persons.

Ondo Police Public Relations Officer, Funmilayo Odunlami – Omisanya confirmed that some suspects are being held in connection with the missing placenta.