By Ghazali Ibrahim
Tragedy has struck in Kano following the death of a woman, identified as Hafsatu Yusuf, who gave birth to quintuplets at a state hospital.
Hafsatu died in the early hours of Thursday, barely a day after delivering five babies: three boys and two girls at the Murtala Mohammed Specialist Hospital, according to multiple reports.
Officials of the Kano State Ministry of Health confirmed that the woman developed severe complications shortly after childbirth. The ministry’s spokesperson said she suffered persistent bleeding, and despite efforts by medical personnel to stabilise her condition, she could not be saved.
“She had been bleeding since after delivery, and all efforts by doctors to control the situation were unsuccessful,” the official said.
The quintuplets, who were delivered successfully, are currently receiving intensive medical care at the hospital and are reported to be in stable condition.
Family members and residents have been thrown into mourning by the development. The husband of the deceased, Salisu Nufi’u, a commercial tricycle driver, was said to be inconsolable following the loss.
The Kano State Government had earlier intervened after news of the rare birth broke, pledging to take responsibility for the medical bills and welfare of both the mother and the newborns.
Health authorities noted that the intervention forms part of broader efforts to improve maternal and child healthcare services in the state and reduce mortality rates.
The deceased has since been buried according to Islamic rites at her residence, as the government and well-meaning Nigerians continue to call for support for the surviving newborns.
The incident has again drawn attention to the challenges of maternal health in Nigeria, particularly in high-risk multiple births, even as stakeholders push for improved access to quality healthcare across the country.
