A woman has advised people to accompany their relatives or partners to the hospital during childbirth, particularly when a Caesarean section is being performed, following concerns about patient safety and the need for greater family involvement in medical care.

In a post circulating on social media, the woman urged families not to leave expectant mothers to navigate hospital procedures alone, stressing the importance of having a trusted person present to provide support and help communicate with healthcare professionals.

The advice has drawn attention amid public discussion of a case involving Barira Alhassan in Gombe State. Her family alleged that one of her kidneys was missing after she underwent a Caesarean section at the State Specialist Hospital in Gombe in April 2026.

Alhassan reportedly experienced health complications after the operation and later underwent medical examinations that indicated she had only one kidney. Her family called for the circumstances to be investigated.

However, the hospital denied that its medical team had removed her kidney during the procedure. It said its theatre records showed that the operation was an emergency Caesarean section and that no kidney-related procedure had been carried out.

The hospital also said a subsequent CT scan was consistent with the possibility that Alhassan had been born without one kidney, alongside an abnormality involving the ureter. It maintained that the findings pointed to a developmental condition rather than surgical removal.

The case has fuelled public concern about transparency, communication and accountability in healthcare. However, the allegations against the hospital should not be treated as proven simply because the woman discovered she had one kidney after surgery.

Medical professionals advise patients and their families to ask questions, seek clear explanations about procedures and follow up on unexpected symptoms or findings. Where concerns arise, patients can request their medical records and seek an independent medical opinion.

While having a trusted relative or partner present can provide emotional support and help patients communicate their concerns, it does not replace professional medical standards, informed consent or proper investigation of complaints.