HeartBreaking: Mum & Triplets Detained in Lagos Hospital Over N35,000 Bill

A woman who gave birth to three babies on the same day has not been allowed to be discharged with her babies because she couldn’t afford the remaining N35,000 hospital bill.

Vanguard reports that a 27-year-old woman identified as Gloria Okore has been detained by the management of Bessylva Hospital and Maternity Home in Lagos for about 7 weeks after she delivered a set of triplets, two girls, and a boy, over her inability to settle outstanding medical bills of N35,000 out of N120,000 incurred at the hospital.

The hospital is located at 60, Surulere Street, Dopemu-Agege, Lagos State, where the woman has been begging for help to raise the balance and cater for the children.

According to reports gathered, the babies were delivered pre-term (seven months), and one of the triplets, a female, died two weeks ago as there was no incubator to use for the babies.

The nursing mum said that due to the harsh economic situation in the country, the family needed the goodwill of Nigerians to take care of the babies.

During a visit to the hospital, Okore, who was looking pale and unable to breastfeed the babies, was kept in an inconducive ward inside the hospital with no medical facilities.

Interviewing the nursing mum, she said: “I had the triplets through normal delivery, but the babies were born prematurely. We were charged N120,000. My husband hawks fairly-used clothes (Okrika). It took him time to raise N85,000, which he paid in installments.

“I am from Owerri in Imo State, while my husband is from Abia State. We got married three years ago. Before I had these triplets, I had twins who died immediately after birth. When I was pregnant for the triplets, I was very sick; I could not walk a long distance because my belly was very big.

“I want the government to help pay the balance of the hospital bills and also help us with basic necessities for the babies. Right now I cannot work because the babies are still young.”

 

Photo credit: Vanguard