A tragic and heart-wrenching incident has sparked widespread outrage after a pregnant woman in labor lost her life due to an alleged refusal of treatment at a private hospital over her inability to pay a ₦500,000 deposit.
The devastating ordeal, which was initially shared on Instagram in February by her grieving husband, Akinbobola Folajimi, recently resurfaced on X (formerly Twitter), drawing renewed attention to the systemic failures in Nigeria’s healthcare system.
A viral video circulating online captures the harrowing moments leading up to her death. The expectant mother, Kemi, is seen inside a car, visibly weak, while her distraught husband desperately tries to keep her conscious.
“My goodness, Kemi, look at me. Stay strong, look at me. Think about your kids, please. You need to be very strong for me,” he pleads, his voice filled with desperation.
According to Folajimi, the couple initially sought medical assistance at a private hospital but were denied treatment because they could not immediately provide the ₦500,000 deposit. Despite his frantic appeals for emergency intervention while he sourced the funds, the hospital allegedly turned them away without offering any assistance.
Left with no choice, they rushed to the nearest government facility, a general hospital in Epe, but the journey proved too long. Tragically, Kemi did not survive the trip.
Expressing his anguish, Folajimi wrote in a social media post:
“Private hospitals in Nigeria. The doctor told me to deposit ₦500,000, and I begged him to start doing whatever was needed to save my wife. We needed emergency support while I ran around for the money, but they drove us out like they didn’t care.
“They blindly rejected us and asked me to take her to the General Hospital in Epe. Even the doctor knew that Epe from Lakwe was way too far for her condition. Before we got there, she was gone.
“How??? Such a wicked institution. Only Jah knows and sees all. This is just too much for me.”
As the heartbreaking video continues to circulate, it has ignited a wave of outrage across social media. Netizens have flooded the comment sections with condolences and demands for urgent healthcare reforms. Many have condemned the systemic failures that allow such tragedies to persist, emphasizing the urgent need for policies that ensure emergency medical care is not withheld due to financial constraints.
This incident has once again highlighted the dire state of Nigeria’s healthcare system, where countless lives are lost due to the prioritization of financial gain over human life. Advocacy groups are now calling for stricter regulations and emergency care policies to prevent further loss of lives under similar circumstances.
While Kemi’s death remains a painful reminder of the cracks in the system, her story has become a rallying point for those demanding justice and change. The question remains: how many more lives must be lost before healthcare institutions prioritize humanity over profit?
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