By ALEX ENEBELE

Mrs Blessing Odenigbo, the mother of premature triplets recuperating at an Enugu hospital, has appealed to Nigerians and the Enugu State Government for financial assistance to settle hospital bills exceeding N3.8 million.

Odenigbo, a fruit seller, who hails from Aku community in Igbo-Etiti Local Government Area of Enugu State, delivered her triplets at Divine Assurance Hospital, Ologo, beside Police Detective College, Enugu.

She explained that complications developed during the pregnancy after her blood pressure reportedly spiked to 196/100, impairing her breathing.

“So based on medical advice, I was rushed to the theatre for emergency surgery to save my life and that of my babies.

“Although, my expected delivery date was Feb. 28, but the babies were delivered prematurely on Jan.11 due to the complications.

“The triplets—two boys and a girl were immediately placed in incubators and initially put on oxygen support,” she said.

She explained that the hospital charged them N95,250 per child daily, amounting to nearly N300,000 every day for the three babies.

“It is over one week that doctor gave us accumulated bill of N3,850,000, for the triplets, warning that the amount would continue to increase as long as the babies remained hospitalised,” she added.

She stressed that her family struggled to settle her own medical bill of N836,000 and subsequently requested to be discharged, as the growing expenses had become unbearable even when she had not recovered completely.

“I am appealing to Nigerians to help me and my family as we want go home.

“This is my first pregnancy. I want Gov. Peter Mbah and his wife, Nkechinyere to come to our rescue.

“I am a fruit seller and we travelled from Nsukka to Enugu for treatment and I’m presently staying with an uncle while my babies remain in the hospital.

“Nigerians can assist us using my husband’s account Number 0021423197. Union bank. Odenigbo darlington Nnamdi and my phone is 08030478676,” she pleaded.

She added that she was unable to breastfeed the babies due to severe swelling of her legs.

Her husband, Mr Nnamdi Odenigbo, a farmer, also appealed for assistance, noting that his wife could barely walk due to the swollen legs, adding that the babies consume a large quantity of milk daily.

Thanking the hospital management for commencing surgery without initial deposit, Odenigbo disclosed that the family only deposited N300,000 which was requested to purchase injections to help boost the babies’ breathing after birth.

“I am calling on well-meaning Nigerians, as well as Gov. Mbah, and his wife, to come to our aid to enable us settle the hospital bills and return home with our children”.

When contacted, a Consultant Pediatrician at the hospital, Dr Kenchukwu Agu, confirmed that Mrs Odenigbo was brought to the hospital on emergency and was immediately operated on to save her life and that of her unborn babies.

He explained that the woman went into labour at 32 weeks of pregnancy, necessitating an emergency caesarean section and the hospital commenced treatment without insisting on an initial deposit because of the critical nature of the situation and to save lives first.

“The babies were delivered prematurely and weighed between 1.1 and 1.3 kilogrammes each. They were immediately placed on oxygen and in incubators to stabilise them,” he said.

According to him, the cost of managing premature babies is usually high due to the level of care required.

“Initially, the hospital charged between N110,000 and N120,000 per child daily. However, following improvement in the babies’ condition, the daily cost was reduced to N75,000 per child.

“This covers oxygen, incubator care, medications and other essential medical services,” Agu added.

The pediatrician disclosed that the official discharge bill for the triplets was N3, 850,000, explaining that the continued stay of the babies in the incubator, had brought the total accumulated bill to N5 million. (NAN)