PHOTO: Woman, Daughter Stranded In India Over Hospital Bills

A Nigerian woman, Mrs. Deola Ogunfoworin, and her daughter, Ronke, are presently languishing at an Indian hospital after the family ran out of funds to treat the ailment for which Deola was flown abroad.

PUNCH Metro learnt that 53-year-old Deola, who was diagnosed of diabetes in 1994, and hypertension in 2009, had been flown to the Asian country on October 7, 2014, to undergo a kidney transplant.

In a medical report signed by one Dr. O.A. Kayode of the Kidney Clinics Nigeria Limited, Abeokuta, Ogun State, and obtained by our correspondent, Deola was referred to the Columbia Asia Hospital, Bangalore, India, for renal transplantation on September 25, 2014.

Kayode wrote, “The above named patient is a known chronic kidney disease patient with background type 11 Diabetes Mellitus and Hypertension. The patient has, however, opted for renal transplantation at Columbia Asia Hospital, Bangalore, India.

“She is medically fit to travel as no untoward complication is expected from her clinical condition.”

Our correspondent gathered that Deola was accompanied to India by 32-year-old Ronke.

It was learnt that when the woman started the treatment at the Indian hospital, an initial surgery done on her neck, gulped more than N3m, leaving the family helpless to carry on with the rest of the treatment.

Speaking with PUNCH Metro, the husband, Feyi Ogunfoworin, said, “When my wife was referred to India in Spetember last year, we rallied round for support and were able to raise more than N3m, hoping to spend it on the kidney transplant. Unfortunately when they arrived in the country, the hospital discovered a tumor, which needed to be operated, in her neck. The N3m went into the surgery.

“The actual transplant she went for has yet to be carried out. We have exhausted all our resources. Officials at the Indian hospital are hoping to ensure they start the transplant promptly, but we are at the end of the rope. Presently, Deola and Ronke are stranded in India as a result of our inability to pay the bills for my wife’s treatment.”

Our correspondent was told that Deola, as a result of ongoing treatment, could not speak on the telephone from the hospital bed.

In a report on Deola’s health by the Columbia Asia Hospital, signed by an official, Dr. Girish Namaghondlu, a consultant Nephrologist, the hospital confirmed that the woman was the hospital’s patient, adding that her treatment was being delayed due to “significant financial problems.”

He said, “She was presented to us from Nigeria seeking a transplant for end stage kidney disease on haemodialysis with background history of long standing diabetes and hypertension.

“Due to the above named problems, she has had prolonged stay at the hospital, and has been deemed unsuitable to receive a kidney transplant, and hence needs regular ongoing maintenance haemodialysis three times a week.

“I gather that there have been significant financial problems in continuing her treatment and her family is seeking financial aid in Nigeria. I strongly support this on humanitarian grounds.”