GENERAL HOSPITAL IKORODU STATES ITS POSITION ON DEJO TUNFULU’S DEATH

The management of General Hospital, Ikorodu has denounced the rumours making rounds accusing the staff of the hospital of neglects and complicities in the event that led to the death of Adekunle Makinde Adetokunbo, popularly known as Dejo Tunfulu on Friday, 1st April, 2022.

In a release signed by the Management of the hospital, and made available on their Facebook page, Nigerians were advised to seek early detection of ailments and make themselves available to medical experts before their conditions deteriorate, this the hospital believe would curtail avoidable deaths.

While putting the records straight, the management appealed that,”… it is  important that people should always verify information, and extract facts before rushing to the media. Whipping up sentiments to misinform the populace and gain public sympathy at the expense of health givers is unfair.”

Find below the details of the release:

“Our attention has been  drawn to various misinformation, and distortion of facts surrounding the demise of late Mr. Adekunle Makinde Adetokunbo, A.K.A Dejo Tunfulu, and the events surrounding his death at General Hospital, Ikorodu.

First, we are using this medium to extend our heartfelt commiseration to the family and  friends  of the deceased, while we pray for the repose of his soul.

However, as a responsible organisation, we would not like to join issues with anyone, but correct the deliberate misinformation aimed at causing mischief, and tarnish the image of the hardworking staff and management who  attended to the deceased at  the facility until his demise.

That late Adetokunbo was admitted into our Accident and Emergency Unit by 6:03AM on Thursday, 31st March, 2022 and died at 12.45AM of Friday, 1st April, 2022 having spent about 18 hours in the hospital.

The late actor was immediately admitted on presentation, despite being refused admission in a private hospital because of his poor clinical state.

With the information at our disposal, late Adetokunbo had been battling with multiple organ failure and immunosuppression with attendant remarkable weight loss, poor appetite, laboured breathing, and increasing weakness for months before presentation.

That the patient was a known hypertensive and heavy smoker for years. The smoking habit he stopped 3 months ago at the peak of his sickness. He has equally been on treatment for immunosuppression in a teaching hospital in Lagos.

He was said to have complained of headache, vomiting and sudden collapse resulting into weakness on the left side of his body, which started hours before presentation at our A & E.

At presentation, he was promptly attended to. Required samples were collected for investigations, catherised, and placed on intravenous fluids with adequate drugs.

He was subsequently reviewed by our medical team that same morning, and was feared to have suffered a stroke with very low blood level in addition to end stage immunosuppression which led to further tests that were requested.

His blood level came out to be 18.9% with evidence of chronic kidney disease and immunosuppression. He was on transfusion with a second pint of blood before he gave up the ghost.

It should be noted that, the hospital prides itself with core values of professionalism, empathy and patients friendliness which were all accorded to late Mr Adetokunbo as a known entertainer. It is on record that, he was jointly attended to by the senior management team led by the Medical Director/CEO and Head, Department of Medicine till 10:00pm of the evening before his demise.

Most of the materials, including the 2 pints of blood were released for his treatment even without prior payments, until the relations were able to raise the necessary fund.

General Hospital Ikorodu do not sell or manufacture blood and blood products. The fee paid by the family was for the grouping and cross matching of each pint of blood which is the standard procedure globally before blood  transfusion can take place. Blood and blood products are donated for major surgeries. Hence, the blood released at the time of emergency must be replaced to make them readily available, and not to deplete the blood bank for others to benefit from at the time of need. These were properly explained by the relevant caregivers in the hospital, and understood  by the family.

Despite the late presentation and severity of the deceased’s condition at the point of admission, the unfounded rumours making rounds made mess of the selfless and frantic efforts of our medical team.

We appeal that, it is  important that people should always verify information, and extract facts before rushing to the media. Whipping up sentiments to misinform the populace and gain public sympathy at the expense of health givers is unfair. All these facts are available and verifiable.

Finally, we at General Hospital, Ikorodu will continue to give our best at all times, but will also advise that patients should please adopt preventive measures, and also present themselves early when they are ill to guarantee a favourable outcome. As a service oriented facility, we are there to give the best care with empathy to all clients that access our hospital in line with the vision of Lagos state.

Thank you.

Management

General Hospital, Ikorodu