A US-based caregiver, Dr Oluwatoyin Iseyemi, on Thursday, paid the medical bills of many indigent patients at the Federal Medical Centre, Ebute-Metta, Lagos.
Iseyemi, who is of the Nigerian Care Provider (NCP), said that the gesture ”is in fulfilment of my promises to alleviate burdens of people during festive season”.
She paid the medical expenses for all indigent patients she met in a hospital bed at the time of her visit.
The caregiver presented a cheque for the sum total (amount not disclosed) to the hospital management of FMC.
”This has nothing to do with politics.
”It is something I came up with independently to give back to the community.
“This is a festive season, I want the people to go back home.
“I want mothers to go home to be mothers to their children.
“I also want fathers to go home to be fathers to their children.
“Everybody deserves to have excellent healthcare.
“I think this is one of the ways I can show support for the community.
”I know there are a lot of challenges in the country, helping in this little way hopefully helps save some lives,” she said.
Iseyemi commended the hospital management for providing the platform for her to serve her community.
She said that her aim was to support the less privileged individuals’ families and helped them to enjoy the season.
“I don’t want to have people worrying about how to pay their medical bills.
”I look forward to doing more in the future,” she added.
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The US-based philanthropist called on well-meaning Nigerians home and abroad to impact their respective indigents.
Iseyemi said that people could give to communities and the homeless, saying ‘anyone can make an impact even if it is only one person”.
She urged the Federal Government to invest more in the health sector in terms of infrastructure and free healthcare for citizens.
One of the beneficiaries, Mrs Kate Chigozie, had Caesarean Section but lost the child.
Chigozie expressed her gratitude to the NCP and prayed for the NGO that provided the gesture.
Another beneficiary, Mrs Blessing Nwagboniwe, who also deliver a baby through surgery, prayed fervently for the care provider.
“’May God bless them more abundantly.
“I deliver the baby through C-Section and there was no financial help. I really thank God for this help,” she did.
The donor and her team were received by the hospital management team led by Dr Saheed Ogumme, the Head of Clinical Services.
Speaking for the Medical Director, Dr Adedamola Dada, Ogumme described the gesture as commendable.
”For those of us in the field, we come across patients who need medical care but cannot afford it, so it is a big challenge.
“The government only allows us to treat people on an emergency just for 24 hours, after that what happens?
”Who is going to pick up the bill, it is a big challenge.
“So, for you to come to help us by, helping our indigent patients, it is commendable,” he said.
Others in the hospital management team are Mr Harrison Etim, the Director of Administration and Dr Olorunyemi Ayoola, Director, Corporate Services and others.
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