JEDDAH, 24 August 2003 — An African AIDS patient, who was admitted to a government hospital in Madinah last week, ran away from the medical facility on Thursday, according to local press reports.
Al-Madinah Arabic daily said the patient, whose legs were chained, found a way out through the hospital’s dilapidated toilet without the knowledge of its security guards.
Baba Muhammad Hasan, a 19-year-old Nigerian overstayer, was admitted to a special room inside the hospital on the directive of Health Minister Dr. Hamad Al-Manie.
The minister intervened after the hospital had allegedly thrown him onto the street without providing him with medical treatment.
Dr. Abdullah Al-Taify, acting director of health affairs in Madinah, has denied any wrongdoing by the hospital, saying that Hasan was treated humanely.
“The patient was in a state of agitation and intended to run away from the hospital,” the official said, adding that the patient had threatened nurses and tried to commit suicide.
According to Al-Madinah daily, police are still searching for Hasan.
Hospital sources said the man went to the toilet at 9.30 p.m. on Thursday, after requesting permission from the guards.
“The guards became suspicious when the man did not come out of the toilet after a long time,” the paper said.
The guards later broke into the toilet. To their surprise, they found that the patient had escaped through the toilet’s window. There were signs of his escape,” the paper said.
Al-Taify said the hospital or the health affairs department was not responsible for the running away of the AIDS patient.
“Providing guards for the patient inside the hospital is the responsibility of the police,” he said.
Brig. Nashmi Al-Hojaily, commander of the patrol police, confirmed that they had received information that the patient has apparently escaped.
“We have deployed our officers all over the city to catch him,” he said.
Health Minister Al-Manie has ordered a committee to investigate the circumstances that led to the patient’s escape from the hospital.
