By Praise Chinecherem
Human rights activist, Dede Uzor Uzor has described the inhuman treatment meted out to a 26-year-old man, Ugochukwu Ukoha by the management of a private hospital in Onitsha, Anambra State.
The victim was reportedly rushed to the hospital by his sisters after he was macheted during a fight in their compound at No. 22 Ebenesi Street, Fegge in the commercial city.
Anambra Daily gathered that nurses and the doctor in the facility insisted on a deposit of N30,000 before treatment would commence.
The medical personnel were said to have also demanded Police report which was provided, yet they refused to treat him from 5 pm till about 11 pm of the day.
Addressing newsmen on Tuesday, Uzor said the victim would have died in the pool of his blood if not for his quick intervention in offsetting the bill.
He said, “Our society has no soul again. It has lost all the values that make it habitable as a society. The value we place on money has deprived even those who should save lives the milk of human kindness.
“A 26-year old man, Ugochukwu Ukoha would have died in a pool of his blood last Friday but thank God there are remnants who can still show some kindness.
“I was driving through the street when I saw the victim’s two sisters weeping profusely around 10.30 pm.
“On inquiry, they narrated the story to me and I helped to raise the N30,000 which was paid before treatment commenced by 11.20 pm.
Describing the action as contrary to stakeholders’ directive of giving emergency attention to dying victims pending when other things were in place, the Activist urged Nigeria Medical Association and other health authorities to come up with stiffer penalty against erring hospitals to serve as deterrent to others.
“Even when DPO Fegge, CSP Rabiu Garba despatched some policemen led by Insp. Ohalete to the hospital, the medical officers insisted on payment of deposit of N30.000
“This, obviously is against statutory directive from the stakeholders that medical emergency attention be given to such dying victims pending when other things will be put into order.
“The Nigeria Medical Association and other health authorities should come up with severe punishment against the erring hospital and their like to serve as a deterrent to others,” he stressed.
