- Bolanle Ambode, the wife of the governor of Lagos, Akinwunmi Ambode, has cleared the medical bill of a family who welcomed a new born baby
- The balance of the medical bill (N650,000) from an initial N1.2m was paid by the wife of the governor on Wednesday, May 30
- The baby had been detained in a hospital for three months due to the inability of the family to pay the balance
Owing to the generosity of the Bolanle Ambode, the wife of the governor of Lagos, Ighadalo Oaikhena, a baby at the Ifako General Hospital in the state, finally joined his family at home on Wednesday, May 30.
Punch reported that Bolanle Ambode paid the baby's medical bill, after he was detained for three months. It was gathered that Ighodalo was born premature alongside his twin sister who died in the first week of her birth at Inton Hospital in Ogba area of the state where they were both put in incubators.
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The parents of the baby told newsmen that they could not pay the N1.2 million bill they incurred in the course of the treatment.
The baby's father, Michael Oaikhena, said that despite paying N550,000 out of the bill, the hospital had insisted on collecting the N650,000 balance before releasing their child, allegedly threatening to take the baby to an orphanage home.
While Akeem Mustapha, the chief medical director of the hospital, denied the orphanage allegation, he insisted on the payment of the bill.
Reports said that a team instructed by the governor's wife, visited the hospital and cleared the debt, which left the baby's mother (Roseline) in tears of joy.
Punch reported: “She did not believe that she would be taking the baby home as she kept asking, ‘Am I really going home with my baby today?’ The aides to the governor’s wife were moved as well, as some of them fought back tears,” a source, who was at the hospital, said.
Confirming the development, Michael said: “As I speak to you, we are going home with the baby. I was really happy when I got a call from an aide to the governor’s wife that my baby would be going home today (Wednesday). I went there and met them with my wife and by then, the money had been paid. I am now in a car with my baby.
"I am really happy and I appreciate the governor’s wife for this. I wish I could see her and hug her for the gesture.
Also, the assistant director of public affairs in the office of the wife of the governor, Folashade Kadiri, in a statement confirmed the payment. Kadiri said: “Mrs Ambode’s attention was drawn to a publication in the PUNCH Newspaper of Wednesday, May 30, 2018, suggesting the detention of a baby for the past three months due to the inability of his parents to pay the medical bill.
“The governor’s wife had immediately directed the payment of the bill to enable the baby to reunite with his parents.
“The payment of N650,000 was made by the Asst. Director, Public Affairs, Office of the wife of the Governor, Mrs Folashade Kadiri, who also effected the baby’s release.
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“The elated mother, Mrs Roseline Oaikhena, who was in tears, could not believe that she would be returning home so easily with her baby after the child’s three months compulsory stay in hospital after delivery.”
Earlier, while, NAIJ.com reported that Michael and Roseline Oaikhena, for three months had been denied the custody of their newborn baby, Ighodalo, over an unpaid medical bill of N650,000.
NAIJ.com gathered that the hospital holding on to the child, in Ogba, Ikeja, Lagos, had allegedly vowed to put him in an orphanage unless the debt was cleared.
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Source: Naija.ng