By: Kabina S. Kabah – kabinakabah98@gmail.com
Bonja – An elderly traditional midwife in her early 70s, identified as Oldma Photo Lloyd of the Bonja Community, has been handed over to the Liberia National Police on allegations of medical malpractice that reportedly led to the death of 24-year-old Grace Junior.
The Liberia Medical and Dental Council, in collaboration with the Montserrado County Health Team and the Ministry of Justice’s Public Safety Department, recently launched a joint investigation which led to Oldma Photo’s arrest.
The Liberia National Police has since opened an official case and is expected to carry out further investigations.
According to investigative reports, Oldma Photo who was trained and certified on February 9, 2007, by the Ministry of Health (MoH) under the Integrated Traditional Midwifery Program, allegedly engaged in unsafe maternal practices by conducting a home-based delivery in breach of national health protocols.
Trained Traditional Midwives (TTMs) are authorized to support maternal care within the community but are mandated to work in close collaboration with licensed healthcare professionals.
The MoH emphasized that TTMs must operate within the bounds of their training and policy regulations to ensure the safety and well-being of both mothers and infants. Despite being assigned to a recognized health facility; Oldma Photo reportedly chose to carry out the delivery at her residence. Investigators disclosed that the victim, Grace Junior, was brought to her around 5:00 a.m. for childbirth.
The Medical and Dental Council said rather than referring the patient to a hospital or qualified medical center at the earliest sign of complications, Oldma kept her until approximately 1:00 p.m. a delay that proved fatal after the patient began gasping for breath.
Health investigators say the tragic incident could have been avoided had proper referral protocols been followed.
