Gov. Umahi offset bills, donates N500k to woman detained in hospital after child delivery
Gracia Simeon-Abakaliki
Ebonyi State Governor David Umahi has given the sum of N500,000 to settle the hospital bill of a new born baby who has been in a hospital in the state following the inability of a parents to a new born baby in pay the bill.
The baby was delivered through cesarean section at the Mother and Child care Primary health Centre, Abakaliki five weeks ago, with the sum of N130,000 charged by the hospital for the delivery of the baby out of which N80,000 was paid by the parents of the baby.
The parents of the baby, Mr. and Mrs. Sunday Igboke from Oriuzor in Ezza North Local Government area of the state lost hope of paying the remaining amount which forced the hospital not to allow the baby and the mother to go home until the bill was cleared.
But the couple joy know no bound when they received the sum of five hundred thousand naira from Governor David Umahi to settle the bills and take care of their newly born baby.
Luck smiled on Mrs. Igboke when she was discovered by a team of some State Executive Council members on inspection tour public utilities and facilities around Abakaliki, the State capital.
The team led by the principal secretary to the Governor, Chief Emmanuel Obasi brought the woman’s plight to the attention of the Governor who instantly directed that the sum should be given to the family.
The Governor further directed that Mrs. Igboke be given automatic employment at her local government Council headquarters to enable her earn regular salary for her family’s continued upkeep.
Delivering the cash to the beneficiaries on behalf of Umahi, he Principal Secretary to the Governor, Emmanuel Obasi, he admonished them to make good use of the money and the opportunity.
Obasi added: “You should know that our Governor is a kind man. Incidentally, you are not the first or even the hundredth person he has shown this kind of love.
“The Governor didn’t know you nor your husband. But because you are a citizen of Ebonyi State, he has extended this love to your family, and you only owe him your prayers, solidarity and support. He has directed us to come and deliver the message; we are only messengers”, he said.
Mr. Igboke in an emotion ladden voice appreciated the Governor for the gesture, praying that God would continue to lift him and members of his team in all their endeavors and aspirations.
He narrated how he was nearly knocked down by a moving vehicle while thinking about how to secure the release of her wife and child from the hospital, adding that he has no assistance, except his well aged mother.
He described the Governor’s gesture as a miracle.
“I married this my wife in the year 2015. Since then, those who are supposed to help us abandoned us.
“Her first issue was through caesarean section, and this time, same problem has confronted us. I did not have a pin in the form of money in the house before now.
“I have been running around to secure money to no avail, and only an old woman, my aged mother gave me N1,000 to enable us feed.
“God has used the Governor to answer our prayers, and I pray that God will grant him his heart desires”, he said
