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| Some of the expectant mothers |
By Leke Adegbite, Akure
Pregnant Women numbering over one hundred today staged a protest
against alleged outrageous medical bills at the Ondo State Specialist
Hospital, Akure calling on Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu to urgently
reverse the situation before it leads to high rate of maternal
mortality.
against alleged outrageous medical bills at the Ondo State Specialist
Hospital, Akure calling on Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu to urgently
reverse the situation before it leads to high rate of maternal
mortality.
According to some of them who spoke with Radio Nigeria, the charges
included N25,000 for delivery, N50,000 for CS and other unjustified
charges ranging from N500 to N4,000 that are being collected by the
hospital’s officials on the order of the state government.
The Expectant Mothers who shut down the Ante-natal section and the main
gates of the hospital for several hours before the state commissioner
for health, Dr Wahab Adegbenro arrived the scene to pacify them.
Two of the protesters, Mrs Maria Livinus and Mrs Funmilayo Oloruntoba
said the hospital failed to provide them with drugs and other materials
during delivery despite paying for them.
They also called on Governor Akeredolu to look into poor service
delivery at the Specialist Hospital while obstetrics and gynecology
section should be made more habitable for nursing and expectant mothers,
adding that under Previous administration of Olusegun Mimiko they
enjoyed free medical services.
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Meanwhile, the ondo state government says it will address the allegation
of pregnant women that obnoxious medical bills was being charged at the
state hospitals.
Reacting to the protest, the state commissioner for Health, Dr Wahab
Adegbenro said medical bills for pregnant women were not up to the
figures that were being branded around.
Dr Adegbenro noted that the era of free Medicare had gone in ondo
state, calling on the residents to bear with the state government.
state, calling on the residents to bear with the state government.
Also speaking, the Chief Medical Director (CMD) of the State Specialist
Hospital, Akure, Dr Moses Adewole said only #9500 was being charged
contrary to speculation.
Our correspondent reports that the protesting pregnant women were seen booing the government’s officials, insisting their claims on
outrageous medical bills were true.
outrageous medical bills were true.
*Story culled from Radio Nigeria, Positive FM except headline.
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