A private hospital in the Ibeju/Lekki area of Lagos State, whose name has been withheld, is under scrutiny after a tragic incident where a pregnant woman, Kemi, reportedly died after being refused treatment. The refusal was allegedly due to her husband’s inability to pay an upfront deposit of N500,000.
The incident, first shared by her husband, Akinbobola Folajimi, in February, resurfaced on social media on Tuesday, sparking widespread outrage. According to reports, the private hospital in Lekki denied Kemi emergency care because the required deposit was not made.
In a viral video, Kemi, visibly weak, can be seen lying in a car, with her husband desperately trying to keep her conscious. He repeatedly called her name, urging her to stay strong for their children, pleading, “Think about your kids, please. You need to be very strong for me.”
After being turned away by the private hospital, Folajimi revealed they were referred to a general hospital in Epe. Tragically, Kemi passed away on the way to the hospital.
Folajimi expressed his grief on social media, stating, “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. 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.”
Attempts to contact the hospital via their listed phone number went unanswered, and a text message sent by PUNCH Metro remained unacknowledged.
The incident has sparked outrage online, with many Nigerians condemning the hospital’s actions and calling for sanctions. Dr. Femi Yekinni, a lecturer, posted on X.com, “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.”
Social media user Anthony Kene added, “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.”
Others, like Damilola Olarewaju, questioned the hospital’s policies, stating, “How does a dead person pay N500,000? Prioritising money over life makes no sense. Hospitals should treat first and sort payments later. What’s the point of a deposit if the patient doesn’t even survive to pay?”
Some online commentators, however, criticized Folajimi for rushing his wife to another private clinic instead of taking her to a public hospital with lower costs. Others raised concerns about him making a video during such a critical time.
User @lordVolder2 remarked, “But why make a video in such a critical situation? May God have mercy upon us and Nigeria. I pray God consoles the husband.”
Another user, @Blueplug11, added, “During an emergency, every second counts. Devoting part of the scarce available time to making a video recording for whatever reason is reckless.”
The incident has ignited wider discussions about accountability in healthcare, with many emphasizing that saving lives should take precedence over financial considerations.
The next time I read a blog, I hope that it doesnt disappoint me as much as this one. I mean, I know it was my choice to read, but I actually thought youd have something interesting to say. All I hear is a bunch of whining about something that you could fix if you werent too busy looking for attention.