UBTH Detains Mother, Newborn Over Delivery Fees
By EDITOR
Distressed father of one, Mr. Umoru Imokha Abdulahi, has appealed to kind hearted Nigerians and the Edo State Governor, Monday Okpebholo, to help him offset the N330,000 medical bills of his wife and newborn baby detained at the University of Benin Teaching Hospital (UBTH) in the last three weeks.
He appealed following his inability to pay the bills, which arose from a Cesarean Section (CS).
Abdulahi, an indigene of Agenebode in Etsako East Local Government Area of Edo State, lamented that his wife and newborn baby have been detained on account of that.
According to him, his wife had CS on March 20, 2025, during the delivery, and was discharged on March 27, a week after, with a total bill of N380,000.
He stressed that he paid a deposit of N50,000 before admission and another N150,000 after the CS, making a total of N200,000 out of the total bill of N380,000.
Abdulahi said that while he went seeking the balance of N180,000, the UBTH came up with an additional cost of N150,000 for the delay in coming up with the balance.
According to him, while he could not pay the N380,000 on March 27, the hospital demanded an additional N10,000 per day at the hospital, stressing that his wife had been detained for 15 days, which is an additional N150,000.
“What UBTH was asking me to pay is a total of N380,000 on March 27. I had no money but was able to raise N200,000 that time. I was not allowed to go with my wife and baby girl.
“I was running around to get their balance of N180,000, which took me over two weeks. Sadly, when I returned to the hospital, I had no money. I was told my bill has now increased from N180,000 to N330,000.
“I was worried because I couldn’t get the N180,000, after paying N200,000, now I am told to pay N10,000 each day since after she was discharged, which amounts to N150,000 for the two weeks I went to seek help to discharge my wife and baby.
“Please, I am begging Nigerians to come to my rescue. I have not been able to discharge my wife and child.
“This is my first child. She was born through Caesarean Section. I don’t have a job. I was doing some hustling at a sawmill. But the money I get can’t pay the hospital bills, let alone the additional N10,000 per day as hospital bills for the 15 days I have been looking for help to discharge my family.
“I have not been able to do the naming after seven days. I am so sad that since giving birth, my wife and baby have not been pressed with hot water, which is needed for safety, “he said.
Abdulahi appealed to the management of UBTH, kind-hearted Nigerians and the State Governor, Okpebholo, to help him discharge his wife and daughter being held at the UBTH.
He could be reached on 09166956146, while assistance can be channeled through his personal account, Polaris Bank: 3053131049 or via a visit to the wife who has been detained on Bed 17 M1(Maternity ward) at UBTH.
When contacted, the UBTH Public Relations Officer (PRO), Mr Uwaila Joshua, said the hospital bill should be paid, adding that the money was accrued due to food and bed space for mother and child care following the extra days spent in the hospital.
Source: Guardian
