Death of 9-year-oldNgerian child in north Cyprus: Autopsy conducted, Ministry of Health, Patients’ Rights Association calls for investigation, political parties seeks transparency

An autopsy has been performed on 9-year-old Chinyere Olivia Ojoagu, who died earlier this week at Lefkoşa Emergency Hospital.

Police confirmed that blood and tissue samples were collected during the procedure, and the exact cause of death will be determined following further forensic analysis.

According to the Police Press Office, the Ministry of Health has instructed the Chief Physician of Dr. Burhan Nalbantoğlu State Hospital to conduct an urgent administrative investigation and prepare a detailed report on the incident. The report will include written statements from all relevant parties, as well as a review of hospital camera footage and the patient’s medical file.

In its official statement, the Ministry noted that the collected samples had been sent to the Forensic Medicine Institute in Turkey for advanced examination.

“The cause of death of our young patient is of great importance for the transparency of public conscience,” the statement read. “All aspects of the case are being thoroughly investigated, and the findings will be shared with the public. Necessary steps will be taken once the investigation and forensic analysis are completed.” The Ministry extended condolences to the child’s family and loved ones.

Patients’ Rights Association Calls for Independent Investigation

The Universal Patients’ Rights Association (EHHD) described the death of the 9-year-old as not only a personal tragedy but also a reflection of systemic deficiencies in the healthcare system. The association urged authorities to ensure a comprehensive, impartial, and independent investigation into the circumstances surrounding the child’s death.

EHHD emphasized that every child, regardless of origin, language, or nationality, must have safe and equal access to healthcare services. It called for an inquiry into whether factors such as the child’s ethnic background, language, or lack of social security coverage had any impact on the care provided.

Citing media reports that doctors had advised hospitalization but the family declined, EHHD raised several questions:

-How thoroughly was the family informed before making this decision?

-Were the severity of the condition, potential risks, and necessary medical interventions clearly explained in plain language?

-Was the language spoken by the family taken into account during communication?

The association highlighted that informed consent is not merely a signature on a form but a process based on trust and mutual understanding. Physicians, it said, are responsible for explaining what a procedure entails, why it is necessary, what the consequences of refusal may be, and the associated risks and alternatives — in language and form that the patient or guardian can fully comprehend.

EHHD further warned that shifting all responsibility to the family would be inconsistent with patients’ rights, adding that ethical and legal accountability should be clearly established. The organization stressed that the right to health is guaranteed under the Constitution of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) and international conventions, which ensure equal and safe access to healthcare for all individuals, regardless of nationality or status.

The association called for structural reforms and the full implementation of healthcare quality and safety standards, in line with World Health Organization principles on safety, effectiveness, timeliness, and equality of access.

“To restore public trust, a thorough, impartial, and independent inquiry must be conducted,” EHHD stated, urging the inclusion of independent experts, patients’ rights advocates, and child health NGOs in the investigation process.

TAM Party Urges Transparency in Investigation

The TAM Party also called for all details regarding the death of Chinyere Olivia Ojoagu at Lefkoşa Dr. Burhan Nalbantoğlu State Hospital to be urgently clarified.

The party noted that the child had initially been taken to Gazimağusa State Hospital and was later discharged at the family’s request. It questioned whether the risks of leaving the hospital were clearly explained to the parents at that stage.

Emphasizing the importance of patient information and consent in medical ethics, TAM stated that patients or their guardians must be informed about the diagnosis, treatment options, and possible complications. The party also underscored that, under the Convention on Human Rights and Biomedicine, minors should give consent to medical procedures in accordance with their maturity level.

TAM further pointed out that due to workload pressures and a lack of perceived legal obligation, this information process is often not adequately conducted in practice. The statement reaffirmed that patients’ rights are among the fundamental principles of a social state, and that providing healthcare without discrimination based on language, religion, or ethnicity is the government’s duty.

The party concluded by urging a comprehensive investigation into all aspects of the incident, emphasizing that no aspect of the case should remain unclear.

The Social Democratic Party (TDP) has described the death of 9-year-old Chinyere Olivia Ojoagu as “the darkest example of the systemic collapse” in the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC), calling for the immediate resignation of Health Minister Hakan Dinçyürek.

The party warned that “every new death will stand as a silent approval of this failed system” if accountability is not ensured.

“The Right to Health Is the State’s Most Fundamental Responsibility”

In its written statement, TDP underlined that under the principles of a social state governed by the rule of law, the government bears the responsibility to protect both the physical and mental health of its citizens — a duty that, it said, has been “clearly violated.”

Recalling the recent “baby formula scandal”, which led to the death of 20-day-old Mihrimah Toymuradov, the party stated: “This is not a single mistake — it is a chain of negligence.”

TDP emphasized that the right to health, enshrined in the TRNC Constitution and international human rights conventions, is among the state’s most fundamental obligations.

The statement also criticized the government for failing to finalize the Patients’ Rights Bill, arguing that this legislative uncertainty has weakened citizens’ ability to file complaints and seek justice.

“We Demand a Transparent Investigation”

The party issued a series of open calls to the government:

-An immediate, public, and transparent investigation must be launched.

-The Ministry of Health and senior administrators must be held accountable — and if they cannot, they should resign from their positions.

-The healthcare system must undergo a radical overhaul to ensure that children can safely access medical care without fear or neglect.

“The Lives Lost Cannot Be Replaced”

Concluding its statement, TDP said that public trust in the state’s most basic duty — protecting life — has been deeply shaken: “The lives lost cannot be replaced. These deaths cannot be forgiven or forgotten. The greatest shame a nation can bear is its failure to protect its children.”

TDP stressed that such tragedies are no longer isolated incidents, but evidence of systemic irresponsibility, urging the government to “be accountable — or step down.”