Mrs Otti Offsets Hospital Bills Of 6 Indigent Patients At Federal Medical Centre, Umuahia

Six patients who were unable to pay their hospital bills at the Federal Medical Centre (FMC) in Umuahia, Abia State’s capital, have expressed gratitude to the governor’s wife, Mrs Priscilla Otti, for providing a lifeline to help them offset their hospital expenses.

Mr Michael Udoh, Mrs Odiwonma Finest, Mrs E Odiwonma, and Mrs Caroline Akachukwu were among the six indigent patients kept at the hospital by management after being discharged due to their inability to pay hospital bills.

However, following Mrs Otti’s visit to the FMC (formerly Queen Elizabeth Specialist Hospital, Umuahia) on Thursday to commemorate this year’s International Day of Charity, the indigent patients were fortunate to have their bills, totalling N3 million, paid by the governor’s spouse.

Mrs Akachukwu stated, “This is a gesture that we greatly appreciate; I appeal to other public-spirited individuals to do the same for people like us because doing so means saving lives.”

Similarly, Mr Udoh, who was overjoyed at the brief event commemorating the Abia First Lady’s visit to the hospital, said, “I do not know what I would have done if not for this intervention.”

Mrs Otti explained in her speech after handing over the proof of payment to the management of Federal Medical Centre that the gesture was consistent with the state government’s agenda for addressing the people’s healthcare needs.

According to her, such visits would not be one-time occurrences, and she would make sure that they were regular. As a result, she encouraged well-meaning people to help the less fortunate, especially during these difficult economic times.

Mrs Ngozi Felix, Commissioner for Poverty Alleviation and Social Protection, also spoke, explaining that the beneficiaries of hospital bills had been discharged but were unable to pay them until the governor’s wife intervened.

Mrs Otti took advantage of the opportunity to visit the Orie Ugba market in Umuahia, where she also provided cash gifts to over 50 traders to help them improve their businesses.

While distributing the funds to the beneficiaries, the governor’s wife hinted that the market would be rebuilt to allow traders to operate in a more conducive environment, adding that trading should always be done in a positive environment.