MOTHER AND BABY DETAINED IN HOSPITAL FOR 3 MONTHS FOR FAILURE TO SETTLE N150,000 BILL

Ebierre and her son sleeps in the reception

Read the very pathetic story according to the husband of the lady, 49-year- old Mr. Pere Douglass;

“Trouble started in February after my wife Ebiere Douglass, was delivered of our child on the 5th of February, through Cesarian operation.  She had to remain at the clinic with the baby because I could not pay N150,000 medical bill.   My wife met Mrs Titilayo koyejo, sometime in December 2012, when she went to Ikotun Medical Centre to register for ante-natal.   Mrs. Titilayo happens to be one of the matrons there. They became friends along the line,and Titilayo further referred my wife to register for ante-natal at her private clinic.

This, she did, in December. When she did not put to bed on the due date, she was asked to go for a second scan, which we did at Tejuosho laboratories here in Ikotun.   It was at the laboratory that the doctor broke the news of the abnormal positioning of the baby in her womb, he also noticed that the water was dry; a situation that will cause difficulty in delivering the baby,and  he said the only solution would be a Caesarian operation.  Unfortunately,  I suffered colossal losses in my oil and gas business as I was duped of a huge amount of money, part of which I would have used to sort out this bill.   I was left with no option but to watch my wife and baby stay back at the clinic because of my inability to pay the bill.   Last Friday, she and our baby were thrown out of the room they occupied and they had to sleep at the reception for three days.”

36-year-old wife, Ebierre, narrates her ordeal;

 

After the operation which went successfully, my husband went to the matron and asked her for the total cost incurred, she told him it is N150,000; but that she had to pay the bills  to settle the doctor that performed the operation and that we have to balance her the money. We saw this as a very kind gesture from her and my husband explained his ordeal in the hands of fraudsters.

He assured he would not mind a written undertaking to be allowed a short period to raise the money and offset the bill. She agreed but insisted that I have to stay back at the hospital. I was also being administered  medications due to complications that followed for two weeks after the operation,and a doctor she employed came to my room and asked the nurses why I was  still at the clinic, they told him my story and he ordered them to stop administering any medications to me until we have settled all outstanding bills…. From that time, I would cry of stomach pain and would not get any medicine.

“Since that development, the matron has been threatening me and my baby, that we will start sleeping on the floor.  Last Friday (April 19th) , when she returned from work, she came into the room and told me that from now, we will have to start sleeping on the floor; that I will no longer use the water nor electricity. My husband came and we pleaded with her to give us more time that things have not been easy for us, especially as my husband has been running around, to get the money.

But she turned down our plea. I later went to meet her in her apartment, which is next door to the clinic, she refused to listen instead, she asked me to return to the clinic that she will meet me there. When she came, I further pleaded with her to consider the baby, that we know she has really tried her best, and that we did not plan things to turn out this way.

I told her we deeply appreciated all she has done, and that she should exercise a little patience with us. She said she can not bear it any more and then instructed one of the nurses to pack up my things and clear the room. The nurses hurriedly cleared up all our belongings there by scattering them all over the room. After that, an electrician was called in to disconnect the electricity and fan.

“Since that Friday up till now, (April 22nd), this is where we have been sleeping. We have not had our bath. Mosquitoes feast on my little baby at night while other flies will take over in the day time.  We have not been allowed to take our birth for days now.  Efforts by sympathetic patients to render help were stopped by the nurses who were directed not to give us any breathing space.  Not being able to bear this anymore, my husband went to Ikotun police station and reported the matter pleading that they should assist us to make the Matron agree to an undertaking.

The DPO accompanied him here to see things for himself. He asked the matron to make us sign an undertaking that we will pay the money at an agreed time, and allow us to go home. she refused, telling the DPO that she does not want to be going to the station to ask for her money; that the police was not there when the clinic carried out the operation on me. The DPO then ordered her to allow us back into the room since she refused to us signing an undertaking. That it is a crime to throw out a new born baby and a nursing mother.

“I feel helpless, if I could, I would have rallied and payed up the money a long time ago. This is a situation no woman will want to see herself in, and my baby, what has he done to deserve this,” she asked, wiping tears off her eyes.