A pregnant woman has died at a maternity and children’s hospital in Katsina State following an alleged delay in treatment caused by a disagreement over payment method for medical oxygen.
The woman, identified as Aisha Najamu, was brought to the facility in critical condition and reportedly required urgent oxygen support. According to eyewitness accounts, hospital staff declined to administer the service after insisting that payment must be made in cash, rejecting offers of electronic transfer.
The incident occurred late at night, when the woman was said to be in visible distress and repeatedly called for help. A bystander reportedly attempted to intervene, urging hospital staff to accept a bank transfer so treatment could begin immediately. The request was allegedly refused on the grounds that hospital policy does not permit electronic payments.
The witness further stated that, in an attempt to save the woman’s life, he offered to pay an additional amount and later presented foreign currency in cash, but this was also declined. The woman was said to have remained without oxygen until she passed away at approximately 11:30 p.m.
Hospital management later expressed sympathy to the family of the deceased and stated that no formal complaint had been received from members of the public at the time of the incident, aside from a report submitted by a human rights group. The administration assured that any staff found to have acted negligently would be investigated and held accountable.
Officials at the facility defended their payment procedure, explaining that government financial regulations prohibit the acceptance of bank transfers into personal accounts. They added that the hospital does not have point-of-sale machines and therefore relies solely on cash payments.
The hospital also acknowledged challenges related to the availability of medical oxygen, noting that supplies are limited and often sourced from outside the immediate area. A senior staff member admitted that the employee involved may have applied hospital rules too rigidly out of fear of being accused of financial misconduct.
The official further explained that past experiences with unpaid medical bills have made staff cautious when handling emergency cases involving payment delays.
The incident has sparked renewed concern over hospital payment systems, emergency response protocols, and access to life-saving care in critical situations.
The incident occurred late at night, when the woman was said to be in visible distress and repeatedly called for help. A bystander reportedly attempted to intervene, urging hospital staff to accept a bank transfer so treatment could begin immediately. The request was allegedly refused on the grounds that hospital policy does not permit electronic payments.
The witness further stated that, in an attempt to save the woman’s life, he offered to pay an additional amount and later presented foreign currency in cash, but this was also declined. The woman was said to have remained without oxygen until she passed away at approximately 11:30 p.m.
Hospital management later expressed sympathy to the family of the deceased and stated that no formal complaint had been received from members of the public at the time of the incident, aside from a report submitted by a human rights group. The administration assured that any staff found to have acted negligently would be investigated and held accountable.
Officials at the facility defended their payment procedure, explaining that government financial regulations prohibit the acceptance of bank transfers into personal accounts. They added that the hospital does not have point-of-sale machines and therefore relies solely on cash payments.
The hospital also acknowledged challenges related to the availability of medical oxygen, noting that supplies are limited and often sourced from outside the immediate area. A senior staff member admitted that the employee involved may have applied hospital rules too rigidly out of fear of being accused of financial misconduct.
The official further explained that past experiences with unpaid medical bills have made staff cautious when handling emergency cases involving payment delays.
The incident has sparked renewed concern over hospital payment systems, emergency response protocols, and access to life-saving care in critical situations.
