Nursing Mother Detained For 7 Months In Lagos Hospital Over N90,000 Unpaid Bill

A young girl simply called Blessing and her baby has been held captive for close to 7Months because she was unable to settle the hospital bill. Blessing, according to Mrs Esther Ogwu, Esther Child Rights Foundation who reported the case on Advocates for Children and Vulnerable Persons platform, gave birth in March through Caesarean section at Mojo hospital at Egbeda shasha in Lagos.

She was charged N350,000 Naira and later the medical director reduced it to N 250,000. She was been able to pay N160,000 but she has been struggling with the balance of N90,000 without luck. The hospital has been holding her captive since March till now.

When the case was reported to Esther Child Rights Foundation, Mrs Ogwu said the case was reported to Afonka Police Station and they assigned an officer to the case but there has not been any positive result since then.

The inhumane treatment she gets with her baby because of money is very sad. She sleeps with her baby girl on the floor of the hospital. She can not go out to buy anything for herself and the baby except one of the nurses helped her out. Blessing Bassey, a hairdresser had pleaded with the Medical Director to allow her to go and work so as to be able to pay the balance but she totally refused.

Blessing is seeking the help of well-meaning Nigerians to help her and her baby who is already 6 months plus in the hospital. Blessing and her baby girl has been there throughout the Covid-19 lockdown till now.