Easter: Abia dep gov, wife pay hospital bills of trapped patients at FMC, Umuahia

To mark this year’s Easter celebration, the deputy governor of Abia state, Hon. Ude Oko Chukwu and his wife, Vivian Ude Oko Chukwu last Saturday, paid off hospital bills of patients trapped at the Federal Medical Centre, Umuahia over their inability to settle their bills.

The Chief Medical Director in Charge, Federal Medical Centre, Umuahia Abali Chukwu could not disclose the amount or number of patients involved but stated “They made a handsome donation to enable the discharge of some of these patients”.

The Federal Medical Centre, Umuahia Chukwu said runs a policy of “Treat All on Emergency Attendance” expressing his belief that “it is noble to do so rather than allow any die needlessly, better alive owing than dead”.

The outcome of this policy obviously in a recessive times like this, he said, has been, an increase in the number of patients that are unable to pay even after treatment and recovery, promising that FMC, Umuahia would continue to welcome such gestures and corporate acts of mercy, stating “We have this year alone waived over N5million worth of bills”.

“We currently have 21 patients of such status totaling N5.4 million ($14,000) . We also have 3 abandoned homeless, disabled and motherless children that the hospital have had to sustain for years having been rejected by their relations”, the CMD disclosed.