Months after the Lagos State Government, Southwest Nigeria, mandated all General Hospitals and Primary Health Centres in the state to provide free antenatal care and child delivery services to pregnant women, the management of Ajeromi General Hospital in the Ajegunle Area of Lagos State detained a woman identified as Elizabeth Davis, who lost her baby after premature delivery due to the inability to settle her medical bill amounting to N323,000.
The Permanent Secretary, Lagos State Ministry of Health, Dr Olusegun Ogboye, had explained that the implementation of free antenatal care and child delivery services, which include caesarean sections, would help improve maternal and child health indices in Lagos.
According to him, “The governor recognised that the cost of antenatal care and child delivery services would add to the burden of fuel subsidy removal on the cost of living for expectant parents.
“This is why the governor announced the free medical intervention as part of the rolled-out measures to ease off the burden.
Meanwhile, Sanwo-Olu, during a media interview in February 2024, stated, “There is an arrangement for free delivery, including cesarean sections, at government hospitals,” adding that his administration “will also give a rebate on some particular drugs at our state government hospitals.”
However, this does not seem to be the case at Ajeromi General Hospital, where the infant’s remains and the mother are being held due to the family’s inability to clear about N323,000 in medical bills
