In a bold move to tackle the alarming rate of preventable deaths in Nigerian hospitals, a coalition of healthcare professionals and patient safety advocates is demanding nationwide implementation of standardized Early Warning Scoring (EWS) systems.
The Silent Crisis in Nigerian Healthcare
Medical experts warn that countless patients are dying needlessly in Nigerian hospitals because critical signs of deterioration are being missed or recognized too late. The situation has reached crisis proportions, with families often left wondering if their loved ones' deaths could have been prevented.
What is an Early Warning Scoring System?
The proposed EWS is a simple but powerful tool that systematically tracks vital signs like heart rate, blood pressure, temperature, and breathing rate. Each measurement receives a score, and when the total reaches a certain threshold, it automatically triggers an urgent response from senior medical staff.
"We're losing patients who could be saved with timely intervention," explains Dr. Olorunfemi Adebayo, a consultant physician involved in the advocacy effort. "The current system relies too much on individual vigilance. The EWS creates a safety net that doesn't let deteriorating patients slip through the cracks."
Proven Results in Other Healthcare Systems
Countries like the United Kingdom have successfully used similar systems for years, with studies showing significant reductions in hospital mortality rates. The UK's National Health Service (NHS) implemented the National Early Warning Score (NEWS) system, which has become standard practice across British hospitals.
The Nigerian Healthcare Reality
In many Nigerian hospitals, overworked staff and inadequate monitoring systems mean that subtle changes in a patient's condition often go unnoticed until it's too late. The advocacy group argues that implementing EWS would provide:
- Standardized assessment of all patients
- Clear escalation protocols for deteriorating cases
- Reduced reliance on individual clinical judgment alone
- Better resource allocation for critical cases
- Improved communication between nursing and medical staff
Call to Action for Healthcare Authorities
The medical coalition is urging the Federal Ministry of Health and state health commissioners to make EWS implementation mandatory in all public and private hospitals. They emphasize that this isn't just about technology but about creating a culture of proactive patient care.
"We have the medical expertise in Nigeria to implement this successfully," says Dr. Adebayo. "What we need now is the political will and institutional commitment to make patient safety a non-negotiable priority."
The group plans to launch awareness campaigns targeting hospital administrators, healthcare workers, and the general public about the life-saving potential of early warning systems in Nigerian healthcare facilities.
