Patients at the Aba General Hospital seek financial assistance from Gov. Ikpeazu, Wife, philanthropists

Patients at the Aba General Hospital have cried out to the Governor of Abia State, Dr. Okezie Ikpeazu, wife; Deaconess Nkechi Ikpeazu to come and assist them settle their hospital bill.

One of the patients and mother of a 5 month old baby Emmanuel Joseph, Mrs. Chizoba Joseph who hails from Orlu in Imo State, but married at Isiagu in Ebonyi state narrated here ordeals said, “God will bless the hospital management for their kindness so far. I came here on 11th of September. My son suddenly developed swollen body.

“I brought him here for treatment and the Doctors here did marvelously well even when we didn’t have anything to offer. He is well now, but I cannot afford the bill given to me that is why I am staying here morning and night begging God to remember me and my child.

“Our bill is 44,000 naira and we cannot afford it. My husband is alive. He is a welder and since then, he has been struggling and trying his best to raise the money. We heard workers are on strike, but I am begging for mercy. We have not eaten anything since morning,” she said.

Mrs. Amaka Ukaegbu had a different story to tell. She is a 29 years old woman from Ohaozara in Ebonyi and is married to her husband who is from Umuahia, the Abia State Capital.

Narrating her story Amaka said, “I came here on the 1st of August but was operated upon for child delivery on the 2nd of August. My child died and this is my first pregnancy. My husband is a Corp Member and he is on his compulsory one year National Youth Service in Enugu State.

“Before my husband left Youth Service, he dropped 20,000 naira to take care of myself after delivery. When the issue of child delivery started, I went to some midwives and they gave me hot injection which practically caused me swollen legs. I was brought here under emergency, but after treatment, there was no more money to settle the bills.

“We only made small payment of 40,000. The country is too hard and my husband said they have not even paid them there where he is serving. I learnt they are usually paid 19,000 naira, but I have not seen any money since. I survived the pains by the grace of God after the death of my child.

“I don’t blame my husband because he loves me and if he had money he would have paid for it. I am begging government and anybody who has enough to please remember people like me. I am not an animal, I am human like every other person, but sickness and unfortunate situation has turned me to a leaving corpse. I beg people not to cast me away. I am a creature of God, but circumstances have made me a debased person.”

Another stranded patient, Gift Monday, a 16 years old SS3 boy from Akwa Ibom State said, “I stay here in Aba with my aunty. I was brought here with the case of ruptured Appendices. I was told we were charged 250,000 naira. My aunty said she has paid half of it, but remaining half. I just beg people of goodwill to come to my aid.

The story of Mrs. Mercy John is another pathetic one. Narrating here own story,29 years old Mercy John said she is fade up with life and doesn’t know what to do with her life anymore.

She said, “I am from Akpaa in Obingwa here in Abia State, but I was married in Ebonyi State. I was brought here to be delivered of a baby through operation. They did their best, but my baby actually died. I have been here since 2nd August. I was told my bill is 233,350 naira and we have paid close to half. My husband does handwork, but specializes more in fixing Almaco glass.”

When contacted, Dr. Uko Samuel, Head Clinical Services General Hospital Aba said the hospital is well known for rendering services to Aba people first before asking for payment, which has been a problem as many patients who have been treated in the past go home without paying anything.

Giving the profiles of some of the affected patients and what brought them to the hospital, Uko said: “There is on Monday Gift, a 16 years old boy. He came in on the 20th of August with the history of pain in the stomach which we went in to do Appendectomy, but unfortunately we ended up doing lobotomy because there was a lot of a problem inside. We did some recessions of the intestine and recovered. We discharged him on the 4th of September and since then he has been here having a balance of 100,250 naira to pay.

“Amaka Ukaegbu was a referral case. She was referred to here from another hospital with the issue of obstructed labour. We went into the theatre and for the fact that the issue has stayed for a long time as she was been moved from one hospital to the other, the baby died in the womb before arrival here. We admitted her on the 2nd of August, took her to the theatre, came out successfully and discharged her since the 17th of August and up till now, she is still here having a balance of 195,800 naira to pay.”

Explaining further, Uko said, “John mercy was another referral case of obstructed labour. After a successful surgery, we discharged her since the 10th of August, but she is still in the wards with balance of 110,600to pay.

“Baby Emmanuel Joseph is a child of Five Months Old. He was treated of Kwashiorkor and was discharged a week ago, but he is still here with his mother.

“There was also a case of one Miss Orji Jessica is a student. We just discharged her just few days ago, but yet to clear her bills of 35,000 naira.”

Uko lamented that, “On several occasions, we do allow patients to go without making payments on the once we can, but these ones their bills are too much and we are just hoping to see if they can at least pay their bills here before they go. This is a government owned hospital and the state government is doing their best to see that this place is well equipped and maintained to standard.

We still need some help because there is a lot to do here. This hospital is situated in the heart of the city and a lot of people are coming here immediately they hear it is government owned hospital whether they have money or not. When they come, we will not ask them out. We cannot chase them away. Our job is to save lives and we cannot watch patients die while asking for money. We do our best to save life first.”