A devastating tragedy has struck in Nigeria, where a pregnant woman lost her life during labor after reportedly being denied medical care due to her inability to pay a N500,000 (approximately GHS 5,000) deposit.
A heartbreaking video that has gone viral on X (formerly Twitter) captures the woman in critical condition, slumped in a car beside her distressed husband. In a desperate attempt to keep her conscious, the man is heard pleading, “Kemi, look at me. Stay strong for our kids.” His voice trembles with fear, love, and helplessness.
According to reports, the couple initially rushed to a hospital seeking urgent medical attention. However, they were allegedly turned away because they couldn’t afford the upfront payment required before treatment could begin. Left with no other choice, they raced to a second medical facility—but by the time they arrived, it was too late. Kemi had passed away.
The incident has ignited a firestorm of outrage across social media platforms, with thousands expressing grief and anger over the tragic loss. Many are calling for immediate reforms to the healthcare system, criticizing the lack of humanity in turning away patients in life-threatening situations over financial constraints.
Kemi’s story has become a painful symbol of the consequences of a healthcare system where access is too often determined by wealth, not need.
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This pregnant woman’s de£th hurts to the bone. No mother deserves to go through this
The pain was so much, but she never gave up, She was strong, she was strong enough.. Even though she was tired, she held on till her lasst breath 💔 watching those videos on her husbands page… pic.twitter.com/lhjtsDTUPM
— Dr Love❤️🩺 (@Drweloveu) April 2, 2025
Netizens Reactions
@Dr Penking –It is easy to get emotional in situations like this, but hospitals are usually pushed to this tight corner due to experiences in the past. I managed a little private practice in a community in Ekiti state sometime in 2021.
When I started, I was so selfless and would manage every case first and ask for money before discharge. Most times people paid back my kindness with wickedness. In a particular quite interesting case , a 19 year old girl had used local methods to carry out an abortion and there were complications.
She was rushed in unconscious, with fever of 41 degrees Celsius, Heart rate of 155bpm, respiratory rate of 32c/m. iv Rocephin was one of the antibiotics we knew would save her life. The hospital pharmacy did not have it and I prescribed for them to buy outside.
When they went to check the price they realized they could not afford it. Her mother wailed like a child. Rocephin (an apex brand of Ceftriaxone) is one of the very expensive antibiotics in Nigeria. I could not stand seeing her die because of money so I dipped my hand inside my pocket and gave her mom money to go buy the antibiotics.
I spent 121 000 Naira in total, I borrowed part of the money, hoping I would get it back when she became well. Day after day, after filing in vials and vials of Rocephin, Slowly she came out of her coma and her symptoms started resolving. Everyone was happy. I feel fulfilled I came to work one morning to meet the most rude shock of my life. Itunu had disappeared from the hospital with her mother, without paying the hospital bills or refunding the money I borrowed to buy antibiotics for her.
At that point I made a very difficult decision for the rest of my stay there, not to ever leave the Doctor’s lodge until the nurses confirmed that the patient had made a deposit and never to dip my hands in my pocket again. Of course people called me a heartless and wicked Doctor, but they had no idea about the experiences that brought me there . There is a solution to all this.
This is another opportunity to let everyone know that there is something called Health Insurance in Nigeria and it is very active and effective . There are many HMO (Health Management Organization) which Register you and take a token monthly or yearly so that anytime you have a medical emergency, hospitals will attend to you and you won’t have to pay.
There are different plans for different socio-economic classes. Please don’t wait until you have emergencies before you start thinking about your health. You that is reading this, have you registered with an HMO?
