A private hospital in the Ibeju/Lekki area of Lagos State is facing widespread condemnation after a pregnant woman, identified as Kemi, reportedly died following the hospital’s refusal to treat her due to her husband's inability to pay a N500,000 upfront deposit. The tragic incident, initially shared by Kemi’s husband, Akinbobola Folajimi, in February, resurfaced on social media on Tuesday, sparking public outrage.
According to reports, the private hospital allegedly denied emergency care until the deposit was made, even as Kemi’s condition deteriorated. In a viral video, a visibly weak Kemi was seen inside a car, with her husband desperately trying to keep her conscious. Folajimi, in an emotional plea, repeatedly called her name, urging her to stay strong for their children.
Folajimi later shared that after being turned away by the hospital, they were referred to a general hospital in Epe. Tragically, Kemi died during the journey.
In his post, Folajimi expressed his anguish, 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."
The hospital has yet to respond publicly. Efforts to contact the hospital via its listed phone number and website were unsuccessful, as calls and text messages went unanswered.
The incident has triggered widespread condemnation online, with many Nigerians demanding that hospitals be held accountable for such actions. Some have called for legislation to ensure that hospitals treat patients first, with payment concerns addressed later.
Dr. Femi Yekinni, a lecturer, shared his grief on X.com, lamenting, "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 also expressed frustration with the hospital's policy. Anthony Kene, a social media user, commented, “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.”
However, some online users criticized the husband's decision to film the distressing situation. Some questioned why he didn’t take Kemi to a public hospital, where costs might have been more affordable. Others raised concerns about the video being recorded during an emergency.
One 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, commented, “During an emergency, every second counts. Devoting part of the scarce available time to making a video recording for whatever reason is reckless. Too much of this occurs these days, where victims are ignored and live videos are streamed just for clout chasing.”
Despite the mixed reactions, the tragic incident has ignited an important discussion about the priorities of healthcare institutions, with many calling for laws to ensure that life-saving treatment takes precedence over financial concerns. The debate continues as Nigerians demand accountability and justice for Kemi’s death.
