- A distressed Nigerian, Akinbobola Folajimi, accused As Salam Convalescent Centre of demanding a N500,000 deposit before treating his pregnant wife, who later lost her life
- The hospital's founder, Rauf Salami, denied the allegations, stating that the woman was referred to another hospital due to the severity of her condition and limited resources
- The incident has sparked a heated debate on social media, with some users defending the hospital's actions and others condemning them, raising important questions about medical ethics and financial considerations
Following the viral video of Akinbobola Folajimi accusing As-Salam Convalescent Centre of negligence that led to his pregnant wife's death, the hospital's management has denied the allegations, stating that it did not refuse to treat Kemi Folajimi, who passed away due to pregnancy-related complications.
Folajimi accused the hospital of demanding a deposit of N500,000 before attending to his wife.
In the viral video, Folajimi alleged that the hospital turned them away, forcing them to seek help at the Epe General Hospital, where his wife tragically passed away.
"The doctor told me to deposit N500,000. I begged him to start treatment while I ran around for the money, but they pushed us away. We rushed to Epe, but she didn’t make it," he said.
The video sparked widespread outrage, with many Nigerians condemning the hospital for alleged medical negligence.
However, in an interview with PUNCH Metro, the hospital's founder, Rauf Salami, refuted the claim, stating that no financial discussion occurred.
According to Salami, the woman was brought in after convulsing twice at home and was immediately referred to the General Hospital in Epe due to the severity of her condition.
Salami emphasised that the hospital did not reject the patient for lack of payment but rather referred her for specialised care due to the limited resources available.
"She wasn’t a registered patient, and it was her first time at our facility. She was brought in in a wheelchair, and after assessing her condition, we referred them immediately to the General Hospital in Epe. They didn’t spend more than three or four minutes with us," he said.
He also questioned whether Kemi had received proper antenatal care before the emergency.
"If we had administered even a drip, she might have died in our facility because there was no blood in her system."
Netizens debate Kemi Folajimi's death
The controversy has sparked heated debate on social media, with some users defending the hospital's actions and others condemning them. A doctor, @docneto, sparked further controversy by stating,
"A pregnant woman dying because her husband couldn’t afford N500k should put some context to the conversations we have here. One such context is that women are right to size up the pocket of a man before deciding to settle down with him. Her life is literally at stake."
@docneto's post did not sit well with some netizens, as @AOKay_1 countered, stating,
“While ideally, a man should have money in preparation for delivery, the reality is that the average person's finances have been severely weakened over the past few years.
“How many can afford an emergency N1m? May we never face financial burdens beyond our means.”
In trying to find a balance to the matter, @docneto responded, “Childbirth is not an emergency. A man's job is to plan for it adequately and cover most reasonably expectable bases. A woman's prerogative is to preferentially select men that can do this. Asking women to do any different is to ask them to unreasonably risk their lives.”
In the heart of debating the controversy, another doctor, @drpenking shared his view by reflecting on a poignant experience while managing his practice in 2021.
"It is easy to get emotional in situations like this, but hospitals are usually pushed to this tight corner due to experiences in the past," he remarked.
"When I started, I was so selfless and would manage every case first and ask for money before discharge. Most times, people paid back my kindness with wickedness," he lamented.
One case, in particular, stands out for him, with a harrowing incident involving a 19-year-old girl who had attempted an abortion using local methods, resulting in critical complications. She was rushed into the hospital, unconscious and battling a severe fever of 41 degrees Celsius, a heart rate of 155 beats per minute, and a respiratory rate of 32.
The doctor knew that IV Rocephin, a crucial antibiotic, was her best chance for survival, but the hospital pharmacy did not have it.
"I prescribed for them to buy outside. When they went to check the price, they realized they could not afford it. Her mother wailed like a child," he recalled, highlighting the overwhelming despair that engulfed the situation.
Determined to save the young woman's life, the doctor made a personal sacrifice.
"I could not stand seeing her die because of money, so I dipped my hand inside my pocket and gave her mom money to go buy the antibiotics. I spent 121,000 Naira in total; I borrowed part of the money, hoping I would get it back when she became well."
“Slowly, after days of administering the antibiotics, Itunu, the young girl, began to emerge from her coma. "Everyone was happy. I feel fulfilled,"
One morning, he arrived at the hospital only to be met with the shattering news; Itunu and her mother had vanished, leaving behind unpaid hospital bills and without returning the money he had lent for her treatment.
"At that point, I made a very difficult decision for the rest of my stay there: not to ever leave the Doctor’s lodge until the nurses confirmed that the patient had made a deposit and never to dip my hands in my pocket again," he declared.
He emphasised the importance of health insurance as a bulwark against such desperate scenarios.
"There is a solution to all this. This is another opportunity to let everyone know that there is something called Health Insurance in Nigeria, and it is very active and effective," he advised. “With various Health Management Organizations offering plans tailored to different socio-economic classes,” he urged, "Please don’t wait until you have emergencies before you start thinking about your health. You that is reading this, have you registered with an HMO?"
The debate is ongoing as netizens weigh in on the controversy
Netizens weigh in on Akinbobola Folajimi's predicament
Here are some reactions below ;
@Drweloveu wrote: “This pregnant woman's de£th hurts to the bone. No mother deserves to go through this. The pain was so much, but she never gave up, She was strong, she was strong enough.. Even though she was tired, she held on till her lasst breath 💔 watching those videos on her husbands page really shoke me up. According to her husband, the hospital that would've helped the mom and the baby rejected them because they couldn't afford the 500k hospital bill 💔 watch the videos.”
@chiefPunisher wrote: “Does it mean that poor men shouldn't be getting married again?”
@Augustin98386624 wrote: “Like I don’t understand. At least if you no get money get children make u no just lose for both side. In this country who don’t have 500k can’t father a child anymore Abi because I don’t understand.”
@segunolaleye82 wrote: “Poor men should live within their means and stop procreating on the basis that God we provide it is stupid behaviour live within ur income.”
@OkonDati wrote: “So Sad!!😢😢 This pregnant women dies in her husband's arms after being rejected in the hospital because of 500k. It's today I understand what women go through during labour. This woman just passed on like that because of money.”
@crownprince410 wrote: “This picture broke me in half when I stumbled on it this afternoon. The pregnant woman in the picture lost her life and her baby's as a result of her husband's inability to deposit 500k in a clinic where she was rushed to.
Poverty is a disease.”
@InspiredCastro wrote: “Sad and Painful 😰 The death of this pregnant woman's de£th traumatises and hurst down the bone marrow. There is no mother in this physical world deserves to go through this. She endured the excruciating pains against all odds and never gave up even when her strength was failing and she was extremely tired, she held on till her lasst breath😭😪 I could not but cry watching those videos on her husbands page😭
Morse according to her husband, the hospital that would've helped the wife and the baby rejected them simply because they couldn't afford the 500, 000 hospital bill 💔
Government has failed her citizens.”
@theviktorious wrote:”Yes, the hospital was wrong for not accepting her first but Shey if he had the 500k, he could’ve paid immediately and ensured his wife received proper treatment right. Marrying for love doesn’t mean choosing someone who cannot take care of you or himself.”
‘Arrest him’: Nigerians furious over pregnant woman’s death reportedly caused by husband, pastor
Meanwhile, TheRadar earlier reported that a pregnant woman identified as Joyce Ifunayachukwu reportedly died.
Joyce was said to have died despite online donations made to help her with her Kidney transplant and pregnancy complications.
Nigerians expressed rage on social media because Joyce allegedly died in a church where her husband took her instead of the hospital.