A resident of Osogbo, capital of Osun State, Abibat Toyin Hammed has been held hostage by officials of the Osun State University Teaching Hospital, Osogbo, over her inability to pay her hospital bills.
Abibat, a deaf woman who also has intellectual disability, was said to have been delivered of a baby at the hospital on Wednesday.
Africa Health Report learned that the indigent woman’s baby died after birth.
The woman, who was said to be an indigene of Osogbo, was rushed to UNIOSUN Teaching Hospital by some leaders of the Nigerian National Association of the Deaf, Osun State chapter when she was experiencing labour.
Some of the members of the association had contributed money for her hospital admission card, drugs and other necessities upon her admission.
They said the hospital has asked them to bring a total sum of N51,100 before Abibat would be allowed to leave the health facility.
As at the time of filing this report, the woman is still held by the hospital.
Meanwhile, the chairperson of the deaf association in the state, Omolara Oyebode has appealed to the state government, civil society groups and other well meaning Nigerians to come to the aid of Abibat, saying she is an indigent person with disabilities who has been abandoned by her family.
She added that the more Abibat stays in the hospital, the higher the bills she would pay, adding that the association had already spent all it has in taking care of her.
