No fewer than 13 discharged patients have been held hostage at a Mission hospital in Abakaliki, capital of Ebonyi State for inability to pay their hospital bills.
The hospital, located along the old Enugu road axis of Abakaliki, is said to have held them back for non-payment of a total of N1, 685,050.
The affected patients, including nursing mothers and their newly born babies, aged patients among others, were reportedly locked up in a room in the medical facility.
A concerned citizen, Nwoba Solomon who visited the discharged patients and saw their situation called for interventions from well-meaning individuals, governments, corporate organizations, philanthropists to ensure they reunite with their families in no distant time.
According to Nwoba, four of the patients are from Ezza North LGA, two from Ebonyi LGA, two from Izzi LGA, two from Ohaukwu LGA while two of them are natives of Ishielu LGA. One of them is said to hail from Imo State, making it a total of thirteen patients.
“Majority of them are nursing mothers who delivered their children. They have been moved into a room. Imagine 13 people in a room including old, young and newly born babies.”
Appealing for assistance, Nwoba disclosed that the hospital would always admit patients and treat them with the hope they would pay up after receiving treatment but most patients default in paying.
He said, “Do we blame the hospital? No!
This hospital is owned by the Mission and they are always interested in saving lives first before looking at your purse. Collectively, we can assist these persons go back to their various homes and continue their normal lives. All we need from you is financial assistance. Even if it is N100, it will reduce the burden on them. I am certain that out of that N1,685,050, if we succeed with at least 60 per cent, the hospital can wave off the remaining balance. Let us support humanity, it is the sole purpose of Christianity. God bless us all as we feel their pains.”
The stranded patients include Mrs. Aluma Anthonia from Ogboji community, Ezza North who gave birth to twins prematurely, had heart related complications with a bill of N500, 000.
Other patients that need financial assistance are Mrs. Awoke Rita whose bill is N554, 150, Mrs. Nwiziogo Chinenye whose bill is N299, 300 and Agboke Blessing whose bill is N28, 100.
