35-yr-old mother, baby detained in hospital over unpaid bills in Ibadan

A mother of newly-born baby girl in Ibadan, Mrs. Adenike Samuel and her baby have been unable to go home since she gave birth on Easter eve over her inability to pay the hospital delivery bill of N300,000.

Samuel was discharged on April 1, but she and her baby are being held at Montana Medical Centre, Challenge, Ibadan, where she was delivered of the baby because of the inability of her husband to pay the delivery bill.

The mother, a native of Ibadan, Oyo State, living at Baba Agba, Wire & Cable, Apata, Ibadan, confirmed her ordeal in an interview with journalists in Ibadan on Tuesday.

According to her, while she had been discharged on April 1, the hospital did not allow her and her baby to go home due to their inability to complete the hospital bill.

She said the total bill of the hospital was N400,000 but her husband was only able to pay N100,000,  remaining the balance of N300,000.

Samuel said the bill was high because she gave birth to the baby through a Caesarean Section.

“The bill amounted to that because I gave birth through Caesarian Section (CS).”

“I am a Tailor. I had two children already before this pregnancy came, but I never knew I was pregnant until the scan which showed that l was carrying a baby.

“I am appealing to Nigerians, organisations especially Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo State, to come to my rescue and assist us with financial support. I want to go home and take care my children.

“Anybody that is touched by our condition can reach and assist us through my account numbers: Eco Bank, 3880058997, Adenike Babalola, Opay 9042924437, Adenike Babalola. My telephone number is 09042924437,” she pleaded.

Samuel added that she was always touched seeing other patients that came after her leaving the hospital while she and her baby were held because they could not pay.

The husband, Mr. Happiness Samuel, an ‘Okada’ rider who hailed from Cross Rivers State, said it would be extremely difficult for him to raise the remaining balance due to the economic challenges in the country.