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ITODE AKARI
The Rivers State Government has cleared the outstanding medical bills of an infant and his grandmother who were allegedly detained for about 13 months at a private hospital in Port Harcourt over unpaid bills.
The case gained widespread public attention after the father of the infant, Mr. Ugochukwu Onyenehigo accused a private hospital of refusing to release his son following the death of his wife during pre-term delivery, calling on well meaning Nigerians to intervene.
Responding to the plea of Onyenehigo, the Rivers State Commissioner for Health, Dr. Adaeze Oreh, announced that the state government had stepped in and had cleared the remaining bills.
Dr. Oreh in a statement on Saturday, disclosed that following the intervention of the State Ministry of Health, the baby and his grandmother had been reunited with the father Mr Ugochukwu Onyenehigo.
She said, “This reunion followed an amicable settlement reached between the father of the baby and the hospital as encouraged by the judicial officer of the family court where a case of juvenile abandonment had been filed by the hospital on humanitarian grounds.
The agreement was communicated to the court, and the case has now been withdrawn.
”In an emotional statement during the mini-send off party held for Miracle by the hospital, Mr Onyenehigo, a generator-repair technician, expressed economic difficulties with the repayment of the outstanding hospital bills.
“Although the agreement between both parties included a repayment plan, the Ministry has at this point waded in to offset the outstanding balance.
“The hospital has been asked to submit a report of all outstanding balances to the Ministry of Health by Monday 3rd November 2025.
“This is to enable the family cope better with the responsibilities of raising a young child”.
Oreh, while appreciating members of the public for their concern over the matter, also expressed gratitude to the state governor, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, for his intervention and support in resolving the issue.
