A fashion designer, Mrs Mujidat Adebisi is currently being held up at a private hospital in Ibadan, over inability to pay up her medical bill. Tunde Ogunesan visited her at her ward and brings this report.NATURALLY, cries of joy and happiness normally accompany the arrival of a new baby. But to the Adebisis, the rain of the joy seized to fall because the family has been unable to pay for the medical bill incurred during the birth of baby Risikiyat Olamiposi Adebisi, over 24 days ago.Not that Mr Ismail Adebisi, a furniture maker and his wife, Mujidat, did not prepare for the unborn baby for a period of nine months, but as the common saying goes, man proposes but God disposes.As it was in their earlier child deliveries, the family was busy buying baby wears as well as planning how to organise a befitting christening ceremony at their Shodipo Street, Olorunsogo, Molete, Ibadan. However, things started going the other way when Mujidat was diagnosed with high blood pressure (BP) and was advised to take a bed rest at the private section of the hospital.Their expectation, according to Mrs Adebisi, was that she would be able to give birth naturally after the exercise (that is the 11 days rest), but said 'it failed to produce the desired expectation.' She revealed on her hospital bed to the Nigerian Tribune that 'after the 11 day bed rest, I was tested again and they told us that the baby had turned with her leg positioned towards the mouth of the uterus. The doctors said they needed to save the lives of both of us' myself and the baby and advised that I undergo a caesarean operation. Around 5.30pm on Tuesday 12th June, 2012, the operation was carried out with the medical team achieving their aim or saving our lives.'While this lasted, we had exceeded our financial capabilities. My husband had to go borrowing to be able to pay part of the bill which was around N90,000 to settle some part of drugs and blood purchase.He took a high interest loan just to make sure that we balanced up but as it is now, it's like we would be needing the support of well-meaning Nigerians.'Nigerian Tribune learnt that baby Risikiyat was christened at the hospital and also spent the first 40 days of her life at the hospital without being sick. When Nigerian Tribune checked at the hospital late last week, from the hospital gate, it found out that Mrs Mujidat Adebisi's case had become public knowledge. On reaching the gate, the men in charge put a call through to the ward that Mrs Adebisi had a visitor from the Nigerian Tribune to show that her case is a public issue.Although, the hospital had stopped giving her food, the management is on collecting the balance from the treatment it gave to her, the hospital has also stopped raising bills for the bed space she's currently occupying in the hospital. Mrs Adebisi's concern apart from the fact that her husband has been running around to offset the bill, is that, things seem more difficult because as 'he is looking for money, we're still paying interest on the one we had borrowed.'She added that by the weekend, if her husband is unable to raise the balance in the region of -N120,000 which is not likely, they will, by the beginning of this week be moved to a special ward meant for people who fail to pay their hospital bill. Because of this, Mrs Adebisi said she wants Nigerians to save her from such embarrassment.And just on Tuesday, the doctor agreed to remove the stiches on her tummy, weeks after it should have been removed. The delay in removing the stitches was not unconnected with the Adebisi's inability to offset their bills.She added that families and friends had done their best, saying the economic condition in the country might not give them the opportunity to do more than they had done. Anybody wishing to assist Mrs Adebisi can send his/her gift to this account: Mr Oke R. Babatunde, account number 01970520067656, UBA Plc, Molete branch, Ibadan.
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