Lagos Hospital Silent Amid Backlash Over Pregnant Woman’s Death
- A private hospital in Lagos allegedly refused to treat a pregnant woman due to her husband’s inability to pay N500,000 upfront, leading to her death
- The hospital has remained silent despite public outrage and unanswered calls for an official response regarding the tragic incident
- The case has sparked renewed debates on healthcare policies, with many Nigerians calling for legal reforms to prevent hospitals from denying emergency care
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A private hospital in the Ibeju/Lekki area of Lagos State has remained silent following allegations that it denied emergency care to a pregnant woman due to her husband’s inability to make an upfront payment of N500,000.
The woman, identified as Kemi, later died after being referred to a general hospital in Epe.
Source: Original
Hospital reportedly rejected lady in labour
The incident, originally shared by her husband, Akinbobola Folajimi, in February, resurfaced on social media on Tuesday, reigniting public outrage.
Reports indicate that the hospital refused to attend to the critically ill woman without the required deposit, despite her deteriorating condition.
A widely circulated video shows Kemi in a weakened state inside a vehicle, while her husband desperately tried to keep her conscious.
Repeatedly calling her name, he pleaded, “My goodness, Kemi, look at me. Stay strong; look at me. Think about your kids, please. You need to be very strong for me.”
Folajimi later explained that after being turned away, they were directed to a government hospital in Epe, but his wife did not survive the journey.
“The doctor told me to deposit N500,000, and I begged him to start doing whatever was needed to save my wife while I ran around for the money, but they drove us out like they didn’t care,” he recounted.
“Unfortunately, they blindly rejected us and asked me to take her to the General Hospital at Epe, even though the doctor knew that Epe from Lakwe is way too far for her condition. Before we rushed her to Epe, she was gone.”
Lagos hospital mum amid reports
Efforts to get a response from the hospital have so far been unsuccessful. When contacted on Wednesday, calls to the phone number listed on the hospital’s website went unanswered. A text message sent to the same number also received no response as of the time of reporting.
The hospital’s silence has fueled widespread criticism, with many Nigerians calling for accountability.
The controversy has led to renewed discussions on whether private medical institutions should be allowed to refuse emergency treatment over financial constraints.
A lecturer, Dr. Femi Yekinni, commented on the incident, saying, “This is just so sad and heartbreaking. Save a life first, then do whatever you can to recover the money later.
This is the acceptable standard all over the world. The National Assembly needs to make a law to address critical issues such as this.”
Others have pointed out that hospitals affiliated with religious organizations should uphold humanitarian values.
“The name of the hospital indicates it’s affiliated with a religious body. I think it should be enshrined in our laws that hospitals must not reject anyone on monetary grounds,” social media user Anthony Kene remarked.
However, some Nigerians questioned why the husband did not take his wife to a public hospital earlier, where the financial burden might have been less. Others criticized him for recording a video while his wife was in distress, arguing that every second should have been spent seeking urgent medical intervention.
Hospitals must prioritise life first - Expert
Public health research analyst Oluwanifemi Akin-Obembe, has said though "most private hospitals are not charity organisations," they should prioritise "life first."
Speaking with Legit.ng, she urged Nigerians to embrace health insurance like Lagos' "Ilera Eko" to ensure access to emergency first aid care during medical crises.
While calling for a standard emergency response that includes stabilising care and proper referrals, she urged hospitals to show "flexibility in payment" policies, especially given the current economic climate.
Meanwhile the hospital has debunked claims that the woman was denied care.
Man loses his heavily pregnant wife
In a similar report, a Nigerian man and his children are currently in deep trauma after he lost his wife, who was pregnant.
The man's story is trending online after he cried out on TikTok, alleging that a hospital rejected his wife because he could not afford the bill
Editorial assistant Ololade Olatimehin provided exclusive commentary from a public health research analyst for this report.
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Source: Legit.ng
