A 200level indegent student of the Federal Polytechnic Nekede, Imo state, Miss Chidera Izuogu has been on admission in a private hospital in Nkwelle-Ezunaka, Oyi Local Government Area of Anambra state over her inability to pay the sum of #3million medical bill.
The victim got injured in July after stepping on a sharp flat iron used as bridge to cross a drainage system in front of her house and suddenly fell into the drainage and the iron cut her leg.
Narrating her ordeal to newsmen in Onitsha, the mother, Mrs. Grace Izuogu said she had paid a total sum of #1million excluding drugs and other expenses for her daughter to be discharged to allow her sit for her examination.
Izuogu, a widow however expressed worry over alleged refusal of the hospital management to discharge her.
She said, “I plead for justice on behalf of my daughter, who has been on admission at Day Star hospital and Maternity at Nkwelle-Ezunaka since July 19th 2020”.
“My daughter got injured on the July 10 after stepping on a sharp flat iron used as bridge to cross a drainage system in front of our house and suddenly fell into the drainage and the iron cut her leg.
“She was immediately rushed to a nearby hospital for first aid treatment and with the assistance of a catholic priest, Rev. Fr. Henry
Ugoke, she was transferred to Day Star hospital where she has been for about four months now.
“On October 24, she was discharged even though she can not walk with the leg despite the fresh cut from her laps to help recovery including severe pains she is receiving all through her body presently.
“With cap in hand I was able to raise #500,000 which was deducted from #3million as advance payment before the doctor commenced treatment.
“The doctor later deducted #580,000, given a balace of #1.8million and vowed that we can not leave the hospital until we pay the bill.
According to Izuogu, the worst was the forthcoming examination of her daughter slated for November 21, saying all her plea to the doctor to allow her to go for the exam as she continued to find means to offset the remaining bill fell on deaf ears.
She said it was the doctor’s refusal to her plea that informed her petitioning the governor’s wife, Chief Ebelechukwu Obiano, Commissioner for Women and children, as well as state branch of Civil Liberties Organization to come to her rescue.
Meanwhile students of the Federal Polytechnic Nekede, have continued to storm the hospital, with the latest group that came last Saturday, demanding immediate release of their student colleague.
One of them who identified herself as Chidaru Igbojianya, described the action of the doctor as wicked and selfish
When contacted on phone, the Medical Director of the hospital, Dr. Uche Nwankwo declined comment.
He said, I can’t talk on that issue on phone. I can’t discuss patient’s matter on phone. It is against the ethics of medical practice.”
Reacting, State Chairman, Civil Liberties Organization, Comrade Vincent Ezekwueme described the Medical Director’s action as inhuman, unprofessional and hostage taking which is a serious offence.
“I am in doubt if he took the medical doctors’ Hippocratic oath, to save life not to save money”, he querried.
