Help me with my bill, i want celebrate Christmas at home, bedridden woman begs Nigerians
Mrs Ujuka Ifediba, a patient at the Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu Teaching Hospital (COOUTH), Awka has cried out to Nigerians to assist her offset the balance of her medical bill so that she could go home after nearly three years.
Ifediba said container fell on her in Lagos in 2017 and inflicted hip and lower limb injuries on her.
She said she had been discharged since Oct. 29 after three major surgeries but could not go home because she needed the sum of N465, 000 or about $1,292 to complete the payment of her bill to the hospital.
She said her family could no longer bear the cost of her ailment as they had stood behind her, took care of her since her travail and paid about N1 million from the total bill.
Ifediba, an indigene of Umuoji, Idemili South Council Area of Anambra said she had been bedridden pleading that she would like to spend 2019 Christmas with members of her family in her home after celebrating twice in the hospital.
“I have been here for a year and seven months following an accident I had where container hit me on my back.
“I have been to the theatre for three times now and finally they have discharged me, they said I should go for now and that was on Oct. 29; but I can not go home because we have not paid all our debt.
“My total bill was N 1,424, 920 and the balance is N464,920, that is what we need to pay now so that I can go home, now COOUTH Doctors are on strike, so I am on my own.
“I have spent two Christmas outside my home but I am appealing to Nigerians to come to my help me so that I can come out of this prison, I want to go home and celebrate with my family and loved ones,” she pleaded.
She said those wishing to assist her should pay to IFEDIBA CHRISTIANA UJU, ZENITH BANK NO. 2252875025.
Dr Ifeanyi Ezeobi, a consultant Orthopaedic Surgeon who handled Ifebida’s condition said she had a complicated case of pelvis and femur fractures which had been operated upon but not yet to fully heal.
Ezeobi said she also had severe bed sores having spent some time at a traditional bone setters home but have been given the best care possible since she came to COOUTH.
“She has been in the hospital for going to two years now but having done all the surgery including the last one where we fixed the femur, we felt she can go home now and continue with physiotherapy.
“Going home will help her because home environment can quicken the healing process, she does not require any more surgery,” he said.