Quadruplet Stranded at Delta University Teaching Hospital over N.3m Bill
What should ordinarily be regarded as double blessing with the birth of quadruplets has brought Mr. Ejike Anyanwu more pain and humiliation than joy as a father.
Mr. Anyanwu's major headache stems from the fact that his wife and their four innocent bundles of joy remained stranded in hospital because he could not afford the sum of N300,000 demanded by the Delta State University Teaching Hospital (DELSUTH) Oghara in Ethiope West Local Government Area of the state.
The despondent father has therefore, cried out for assistance from good spirited members of the public as his set of quadruplet are held due to his inability to offset the hospital bills.
Narrating his predicament to THISDAY, 39-year old Anyawu who hails from Enugu Ezike Aji in Igbo Eze North Local Government Area of Enugu State, said his wife was delivered of a set of quadruplet through Caesarean section on Friday, May 15, 2015 at the hospital.
He lamented that he was left with no money to settle the bills for the delivery of his babies after exhausting what he could raise initially towards the operation.
He revealed that he spent close to N300,000 for laboratory examination and drugs, most of the money borrowed; adding that he was still troubled how he would eventually feed the quadruplet and the rest of the family.
Anyanwu said that he was forced to engage in menial jobs after his trade in building materials collapsed in 2013.
He said that the menial jobs he had to do for his family upkeep included offloading goods from trucks or motorised trailers at Ekpan on the NPA Express Road in Warri, while his wife was a full-time housewife.
The set of four babies were still at the Neonatal Care Unit (NCU) of DELSUTH after over five weeks but were being fed daily from the generosity of good-spirited Nigerians, he said.
Anyanwu admitted his shock at the birth of the quadruplets: “When I was called upon to see my wife and new born, with joy I walked in but the joy vanished almost immediately, as I almost collapsed seeing four children. It ought to be a great joy for me but I have no meaningful source of livelihood. It was never my intention to bring these children into the world to suffer lack."
He further said, "At a time, the pharmacy where I was buying drugs on credit refused selling on credit to me for fear of my inability to pay. So, I had to borrow from friends and neighbours to buy some of the drugs.
“I am appealing to Delta State Governor, Dr Ifeanyi Okowa and the Enugu State Governor, Chief Ifeanyi Uguanyi, national and state assembly members, philanthropists, corporate organisations and well-meaning Nigerians.....Please assist me in settling the bills and giving these children cause to live."
The sudden enlargement of his family from four (4) to eight (8) has left him very confused as he daily ponders on how to cater for the new arrivals, the two other children and wife under his jobless situation.
However, Anyanwu said he could be reached through phone number, 08035023491. He also gave a First Bank account number into which anybody interested could send donations.