New Nollywood Film Tackles Medical Negligence at AFRIFF

Nollywood's latest psychological medical thriller, ‘The Hospital Chronicles: the I.C.U’, directed by Segilola Ogidan, is making its debut at the ongoing Africa International Film Festival (AFRIFF) as one of the official selections.

Produced by Chiamaka Ezenwa and Big Brother Africa star Boma Akpore, the film addresses serious issues like medical negligence, risky pregnancies, and illegal organ harvesting. Through its gripping story, the film looks into patient rights, public trust, and weaknesses in healthcare systems.

The movie features a talented cast, including Abimbola Akintola, Bucci Franklin, Demola Adedoyin, Etta JoMaria, Kadaria Ahmed, Kamo, Michelle Dede, Oyemen Ehikhamhen, Ozzy Agu, Temiloluwa Ami, and veteran actress Tina Mba.

Screening

The screening took place on Wednesday at Filmhouse Landmark in Lagos State. It was followed by a red-carpet event and a lively question-and-answer session.

Segilola Ogidan

After the screening, director Segilola Ogidan talked about how challenging and rewarding the filmmaking process was. She shared that part of the story was inspired by a personal experience with medical negligence that almost took her life.

“This is something that should have been relatively straightforward, but it ended up almost killing me. It was horrible, and it could have been avoided because of negligence. So I put it all into the film,” she said.

Mrs Ogidan also mentioned that the idea of including illegal organ harvesting in the plot came about during writing. Her co-writer suggested adding a thrilling element to the drama. She found out through research that this practice, while mostly hidden, is a serious issue.

Bucci Franklin, one of the cast members who plays the hospital’s Managing Director, expressed concern about how the sensitive topic would be handled. He highlighted the need for a proper medical setting for the production.

He thanked a Lagos hospital for allowing them to use their facility, which helped bring the story to life. Franklin also advised Nigerians to be careful when choosing healthcare facilities for themselves and their families. He emphasized that people should look beyond how a hospital looks or where it is located and do proper checks. He acknowledged the hard work of healthcare professionals who are doing great things across Nigeria.

‘The Hospital Chronicles: The I.C.U’

‘The Hospital Chronicles: The I.C.U’ is the first part of a planned film series that aims to highlight issues affecting patients and healthcare.

The production team is continuing its promotional efforts and engaging with stakeholders after the AFRIFF screening, leading up to the film’s expected release in cinemas in 2027.