A woman named Elizabeth Davis, who recently gave birth prematurely at Ajeromi General Hospital in the Ajegunle Area of Lagos State, is being detained by the hospital management due to her inability to settle her medical bill amounting to N323,000.
This incident has raised concerns as the state government had issued a directive for all general hospitals and primary health centers to provide free antenatal care and child delivery services to residents of the state.
The government’s initiative aimed to alleviate the financial burden faced by residents following the removal of fuel subsidy by the Federal Government. In February 2024, Governor Sanwo-Olu stated in a media interview that free delivery, including cesarean sections, would be provided at government hospitals, along with rebates on specific drugs.
However, the situation at Ajeromi General Hospital contradicts these claims, as both the remains of the infant and the mother are still being held by the hospital management due to the outstanding medical bill. Since February 29, 2024, Davis has been at the hospital, and despite efforts to save the premature baby, the child passed away on March 3, 2024.
Davis shared her experience, stating that the hospital informed her about her baby’s deteriorating health and eventually her passing. Since then, she has been detained, with the hospital demanding a payment of over N353,000 before releasing her. Initially, the hospital also withheld the remains of the child, but on Monday, March 25, 2024, they called Davis’s husband, Michael Bassey, to collect the infant’s body.
Bassey expressed his frustration, recounting that their premature baby had been in an incubator for weeks before the unfortunate loss. He revealed that the hospital demanded a clearance fee of N323,000 before allowing him to retrieve the infant’s corpse. To meet their demands, Bassey could only provide N50,000, which he gave to the hospital. He further mentioned that his wife was still being detained at the facility.
In response to the situation, the state Commissioner for Health, Prof. Akin Abayomi, has assured that he will personally investigate the matter after receiving details of the hospital and the patient’s name.