By PAMELA EBOH, Awka

A middle-aged man Sunday Odinaka has allegedly fled his home after abandoning his nursing wife, Mrs. Evlyn Odinaka, who delivered a set of triplets at a private hospital in Okpoko, Ogbaru Local Government Area, Anambra State.

It was gathered that Odinaka, an indigene of Ubraekwem, Ihiala Local Government of the state, and a father of four children had disappeared for two weeks after he was given a bill of four hundred thousand naira by the hospital.

Information has it that before the arrival of the triplets, a girl and two boys, the four children had been withdrawn from school following financial nose dive.

Narrating her ordeal to journalists on Thursday from her hospital bed, Mrs. Odinaka, a petty trader said: “Before I gave birth to the triplets, there was nothing in the house to eat. I sell sachet water and my husband has no job, sometimes he will do menial work from which we eat.

“We have been living from hand to mouth until the arrival of the triplets and the trouble became worse. My husband has been complaining about how to afford the hospital bill even before I gave birth believing I will deliver just one baby.

“But on seeing three of them, coupled with the already four kids that are not adequately fed, he abandoned us up to two weeks now. Worse still, she has no phone to call him with.

“I’m sure the N450,000 bill he was asked to pay at the hospital due to complication I had was the major reason my husband abandoned us.”

According to her, her daughter who she usually sends home to get hot water for bathing the triplets said she has not set her eyes on her father.

She however disclosed that she had been able to raise about N50,000 from friends and well-wishers.

While calling on the wife of the state Governor, Chief Ebelechukwu Obiano, to come to her aid, the nursing mother added: “Before my husband fled, he submitted a petition to the office of the first Lady and Commissioner for Women and Children Welfare that I gave birth to triplets and needed help, but no response. That may be part of the frustration that made him to flee.

“My daughter said that somebody told her that her father swore never to return until he was sure the hospital bill was settled.”

She said that her husband who had expected only a baby from the pregnancy, had earlier expressed worry over payment of hospital bill before she put to bed.

pleaded with the doctor to allow him to look for the sum of N450, 000 given to him, but was yet to return two weeks after.

In his reaction, the Anambra State Chairman, Civil Liberties Organization (CLO), Comrade Vincent Ezekwueme, said the family was in dire need of financial assistance not only for offsetting the hospital bill but feeding the babies.

He solicited for the engagement of the husband with a meaningful job to enable him cater for his family.