The wife of Abia state governor, Lady Mercy Odochi Orji has directed the immediate release of 11 indigent nursing mothers at the Federal Medical Centre (FMC), Umuahia over nonpayment their hospital bills totaling N1.017m after many months of their discharge.
Lady Orji who gave the directive at the Nkasiobi ward of the hospital where she has gone to pay the traditional homage to the state 2013 “Baby of the Year”, little Miss Favour Chimezie Uchendu from Obowo, Imo state and who was however born at Amachara General Hospital at 1.40am and 3.5kg on the new year day but admitted at the FMC also promised to pay of the hospital bills of Messers Ufere Ibe (158,000), Sylvanus Umoh (N364, 000) both of the male surgical ward and Mrs Ndidi Nwobike (N41,000) a pregnant woman on admission to help her offset some of her bills about to be computed.
The indigent nursing mothers who could not contain their joy and jubilation danced and sing songs of praises for Her Excellency thanked the wife of the governor for coming to their rescue as some of them have spent close to four months under the custody of the hospital due to inability to clear their debts and described her visit as timely on the first day of the year.
Lady Orji said that gestures was part of her humanitarian services to the people adding that apart from regular visit to hospitals and other forms of assistance to the indigents, she has made it an annual ritual during visit to the baby of the year to clear the hospital bills of nursing mothers being detained at hospital after child delivery to enable them go home and take proper care of their children.
The wife of the governor commended the medical personnel of the hospital and that of Amachara General Hospital for ensuring safe delivery of their children and for their dedication and diligent to duty stating that the challenges of the profession was demanding but urged them not to relent in showing compassion and care to the sick as a way of helping them recover quickly.
Lady Orji also visited little Master Emmanuel Ndudi from Uturu, Isuikwuator Local government of Abia state who was the first baby to be born at FMC Umuahia at 6am and weighed 2.5kg commended the hospitals personnel for ensuring the safe delivery of the two children and other babies in the hospitals and thanked God for blessing the families of Uchendu and Ndudi with the fruits of the womb favour.
The wife of the governor later distributed various gifts items to the Baby of the year, Master Ndudi and other newly born babies in the hospital. In a vote of thanks, the Matron of the ward, Mrs Uduma Ezra thanked her Excellency for her magnanimity towards the less privileged and her regular visit to the hospital during which she clears hospital bills of patients and urged her not to relent.
