By Ralph Sesay
The Ministry of Defence and the Republic of Sierra Leone Armed Forces have cleared the air over an alleged report of a stolen baby at the 34 Military Hospital in Freetown.
At a well-attended press briefing in Freetown, the Ministry of Defence disclosed that one Benetta Kargbo had implicated four (4) personnel of the 34 Military Hospital for allegedly stealing her baby after she delivered at the hospital.
The matter, according to MOD, was investigated by the Criminal Investigations Department of the Sierra Leone Police.
All four officials of the hospital were handed over by MOD to the CID for interview and investigation into the said allegations.
MOD says they were constrained in making any public statement on the issue since the matter was under investigation.
They further informed newsmen that after thorough investigations by the CID, the Director of Public Prosecution proffered a legal opinion on the matter stating that the allegations against the four personnel working at the 34 Military Hospital could not be charged to court due to lack of evidence.
MOD and RSLAF authorities explained to newsmen the circumstances that had surrounded the incident, noting that on 16th November, 2017 at 1:15 am, the complainant, Benetta Kargbo, was admitted at the hospital on account of labour pain.
The complainant, according to MOD, was given medical care by the duty nurses and that she was accompanied by her mother and husband, Reginald Glenn Taylor.
Benetta Kargbo who, according to MOD, had difficult labour was later rescued by Dr. Thomsia George, Doctor-in-Charge at the time.
She later delivered a baby boy but his condition was not encouraging and hence the boy died shortly after his birth, MOD officials say.
As per procedures in the hospital, according to MOD, Benetta Kargbo was discharged and given a death certificate of the baby.
‘’However after 14 months, Benetta Kargbo accused four medical staff of the 34 Military hospital of stealing her baby boy,’’ MOD says.
The Ministry of Defence views the accusations against the hospital as an attempt to dent the reputation of the hospital which, according to them, has stood the test of time in terms of health care delivery in the country.