Neglected Patient a Victim of Hospital Staff Corruption: Philanthropist
By Mike Odeh James and Luka Binniyat
(Abuja) Like other twenty-something Nigerian women, Aisha Philibus in Abuja, Nigeria had hopes, dreams, and her own Tik Tok Channel. Then in September a viral infection sent her to the hospital and although treatment was available, the money wasn’t. So, despite prayer and frantic efforts of impoverished family, death came calling. Aisha’s battle to stay alive and her relatives’ common fight to help her get medical treatment is a cipher of Nigeria’s current status as the wealthiest nation in Africa, but by all accounts, a failing state.
Prior to her illness, Aisha earned a reputation as a vibrant and determined 25-year-old, whose creativity and pluck shone despite squalor of the IDP camp. Those who knew her described her as “amazing,” with an unwavering spirit to improve herself and to escape the camp’s spiritual boundaries.
She had begun to build a promising online presence through her TikTok channel, showcasing her talent and creativity to a growing audience.
Aisha is among tens of thousands of Christians born and raised in Gwoza County in Borno State but forced to run for her life in her early teens when Boko Haram (Western Learning is Forbidden) terrorists destroyed her neighborhood near Lake Chad in 2015. Over time, she and her relatives found themselves several hundred miles away in Newkuchingoro IDP camp Abuja.
Virus and Mortal Illness
Aisha fell sick on the September 4, 2024 and succumbed after three weeks. She had survived Boko Haram, which reportedly has murdered 300,000 Nigerians since 2009, but she couldn’t survive Nigeria’s corrupt, venal medical establishment.
She was rushed to Garki Hospital, Abuja on September 14, 2024
On getting to the hospital, the staff did medical tests and diagnosed her with a chronic viral infection which was resistant to antibiotics.
According to Walla Philibus, elder brother of Aisha, the doctor on duty insisted that Aisha needed urgent attention at the Intensive Care Unit (ICU).
“The hospital demanded a full deposit of N780,000 naira (approximately $458 dollars) before Aisha would be transferred to ICU for immediate treatment,” Walla said.
“We had to beg and rally round to raise the sum of N200,000 naira (US$120 dollars) and gave it to the hospital so that the medical personnel could commence treatment of Aisha, and they reluctantly agreed,” he said.
Yet, the hospital staff refused to treat Aisha after collecting the money and insisted that treatment could only commence after the full payment had been made, Walla told TruthNigeria.
Frantic Last Day
As the condition of Aisha worsened, Aisha’s family moved her to a more affordable hospital, but Garki hospital would not allow her to be moved.
“The hospital insisted on full payment of the $458 dollars despite our financial struggles as IDPs, “Walla said, adding: “They insisted that she had to be treated at their hospital, since we had brought her there already.”
“While all this was going on, we were struggling to feed and care for Aisha,” he said.
“We could barely afford to feed ourselves but made sure everything we had was committed to Aisha,” said Walla to TruthNigeria.
Aisha lost her battle with the infection on October 9, 2024, at 4 pm.
Body Held by Hospital
But the hospital held on to her corpse as security for payment of the full amount.
Enoch Yohanna, 28, an IDP at new Newkuchingoro IDP camp witnessed Aisha’s struggle with death and how she was denied treatment over debt claims.
“I was among those that took Aisha to Garki-Nisa Hospital. She required urgent ICU transfer. However, hospital staff demanded more than 700,000-naira deposit, despite the family’s financial struggles.
“Even when the family and other IDPs pooled their resources and came up with N200,000 naira, the hospital said said they would not treat her unless the family came up with the N700,000 naira,” Yohanna said.
At that point, a Non-Government Organisation (NGO) called Smile Kadija Foundation stepped in, offering to take Aisha to another hospital on its bill but, Garki-Nisa Hospital refused to release Aisha, said Yohanna.
“A Good Samaritan also contributed 22,000 naira, but the hospital still denied transfer, emphasizing the need for the balance of N580,000 be paid,” he said. By Oct. 9, it was a moot point.
American Mayor intervenes
Mike Arnold, the Mayor of Blanco City, Texas, and a financial sponsor of the IDP Camp, came to Abuja to help rebuild huts in late October, Arnold told TruthNigeria.
It was during this visit that Arnold learned about Aisha’s body held for a ransom. The hospital staff had labeled her body as “unknown.”
Armed with cameras, lights, and live streaming equipment, Arnold led a group of IDPs to the hospital, confronting the authorities and demanding the release of Aisha’s body. This intense advocacy effort eventually reached the hospital’s top administration.
Top management of the hospital learned about the situation and sent a representative to meet with IDP camp friends who stood protesting outside the Garki hospital. The hospital administrators claimed ignorance of the situation, promptly apologized and released the corpse of Aisha, TruthNigeria learned.
Aisha finally laid to rest
“Apparently, it was the lower or mid-level hospital staff that held Aisha. By law she should have been released without payment, just some paperwork,” Arnold told TruthNigeria.
“But the staff were demanding more and more money from the deceased’s brother.
“They had labeled her body as ‘unknown,’ so that the upper-level administration seemingly had no idea what was going on.
“We went in strong. Cameras, lights, live streaming. Straight to the top. It was ugly but we got her.
“And yes, we were physically assaulted at the hospital. Our top administrator, a woman, was punched by a big staffer. They broke camera equipment and a phone as well,” Arnold texted TruthNigeria.
“The top man seemed sympathetic and totally in the dark. At the end, her body was released to us,” Arnold said.
Aisha’s body was released on October 24, 2024 around 2 p.m. and buried her immediately at 4 p.m. same day, according to Arnold.
In recognition of the tragedy of her life ending needlessly, a medical clinic will soon be built on the grounds of the Newkuchingoro IDP camp in Abuja, according to Arnold on Nov. 11. “Our plan is to name the clinic in honor of Aisha Philibus,” Arnold said.
“We have engaged an attorney to press murder charges against the corrupt staff members at the hospital,” he added.
Mike Odeh and Luka Binniyat are conflict reporters for Truth Nigeria based in Kaduna
