The hospital administration in Lagos is currently holding Elizabeth Davis, a mother who tragically lost her premature baby at Ajeromi General Hospital, because she cannot pay a N323,000 medical bill. Given the state government’s mandate to offer free prenatal care and childbirth services to all residents, this detention is unexpected.
The goal of the government initiative was to mitigate the hardships resulting from the removal of fuel subsidies. Governor Sanwo-Olu had assured the public during a media interview in February 2024 that free deliveries, including cesarean sections, would be available at government hospitals, along with rebates on specific drugs.
However, at Ajeromi General Hospital, both Elizabeth Davis and the remains of her child have been detained since Monday and Tuesday, respectively. The hospital management claims that the detention is due to her husband’s failure to settle the medical bills.
In an emotional interview with PUNCH Metro, Davis revealed that she gave birth prematurely on February 29, 2024, and her baby was placed in an incubator for treatment. Shockingly, on March 2, 2024, the hospital informed her that the baby had developed a fever. The situation quickly worsened, and by March 3, her baby had tragically passed away.
Since then, Davis has been held against her will, with the hospital demanding a payment of over N353,000 before releasing her. Adding to their distress, the hospital initially refused to allow the family to take the child’s remains, but they finally called Davis’s husband, Michael Bassey, on Monday, March 25, 2024, to collect the baby’s body.
Bassey expressed his frustration, sharing that his wife had given birth prematurely at seven months and that the baby had remained in the incubator for several weeks. After losing their child, the hospital demanded a clearance fee of N323,000 before releasing the infant’s remains. Bassey managed to pay only N50,000, fearing he wouldn’t be able to bury his daughter if he didn’t comply. Meanwhile, his wife continues to be detained at the hospital.
Upon being contacted, the state commissioner for health, Prof. Akin Abayomi, promised to investigate the matter after receiving the hospital’s details and the patient’s name via WhatsApp messages from PUNCH Metro’s correspondent on Monday.
