Eleven indigent persons, who were detained by the management of Federal Medical Centre, Owerri, for their alleged inability to offset their hospital bills, have regained their freedom.
Our Correspondent, who closely monitored the ugly developed, recalls that the bills which amounted to over N800,000 was eventually settled by a non-government organization, NGO.
Vanguard also gathered that the eleven lucky citizens were among the many patients treated and discharged but sadly detained by the hospital management for allegedly failing to clear their bills.
Some of the patients told Vanguard that a number of them have spent months either waiting for the government or good spirited individuals to bail them out.
Apparently touched by the plight of these unfortunate citizens, the NGO known as Divine Care Global Community Initiative, painstakingly negotiated a 30 percent rebate with FMC management, which lifted the debt burden on the patients.
Speaking to newsmen after the charitable act, the National Coordinator of the body, Mr. Dandy Odii, appealed to privileged members of the society to always remember those in need.
“In the course of our routine visits to the hospital, we came across these people who could not pay their bills. We approach the hospital management on their behalf and requested that they grant us 50 percent rebate but we later agreed for 30 percent rebate”, Odii said.
Receiving a bank draft for over N800,000 from the group, the Medical Director of FMC, Dr. (Mrs.) Angela Uwakwem, expressed worry over the plight of indigent persons in the society.
It was her considered opinion that there is always a level for people who are disposed for any measure of philanthropy.
