In recent medical news, a tragic story has highlighted the challenges many families face when trying to access quality health care for their loved ones. This story, told by a 32-year-old woman, highlights her family’s desperate struggle to find adequate treatment for their seriously ill mother.
The young woman’s mother, who suffered from diabetes and hypertension, fell seriously ill, prompting the family to rush her to several hospitals. Unfortunately, due to bed shortages and the complexity of his medical condition, they were turned away by several health facilities before finally being referred to the Military Hospital, which then referred them to the Awesome Grace Hospital .
This woman’s account of the circumstances surrounding her mother’s death is heartbreaking. She recounts how her mother complained of severe abdominal pain, with swollen veins. Despite numerous efforts to find medical help, they were faced with successive refusals until they arrived at the Military Hospital.
After a medical evaluation at the Military Hospital, the family was referred to Awesome Grace Hospital. However, the patient’s treatment was delayed until an initial payment of N300,000, plus a registration fee of N20,000, was made. The family had to show a balance of N415,000 in their account for treatment to begin. Unfortunately, the mother died two days later.
The narrative continues with the family facing additional costs to obtain a death certificate and arrange for transport of the body. Despite another payment of N100,000, the hospital refused to release the body until the remaining balance of N415,000 was settled, eventually transferring the body to the Military Hospital mortuary.
The father of the family expressed his frustration with the situation, highlighting the injustice of having to pay exorbitant amounts after having already paid the required fees for the treatment. He pleaded for his wife’s body to be released, highlighting the agony experienced by the family.
This poignant story highlights the barriers many patients and families face when trying to access quality health care. It raises questions about equity and accessibility of health services, calling for broader thinking about how health systems can be improved to better meet the needs of the most vulnerable populations.