CFA 7 million Scandal Over Triplets Born at Douala General Hospital

Family Debunks Information

20-year-old mother of triplets has denied allegations that she was taken hostage and asked for CFA 7 million.

Following reports on social media that a woman who gave birth to triplets (two boys and a girl) was asked to pay the sum of CFA 7 million before releasing her babies, 20-year-old Foyete Nhnillase Elza, mother of the triplets, has refuted the allegations. She said they had not been sequestrated and that the hospital had not demanded CFA 7 million. She insisted that she was discharged six days after her C-section and that the babies are still in hospital because they were underweight and needed follow-up care to reach the right weight before leaving the hospital.

According to Dr Eloumou Bissassa, a paediatrician at the Douala General Hospital, a 20-year-old woman was admitted to the hospital on 8 January and gave birth to triplets by caesarean section on 14 January. “It was a premature birth at 29 weeks (6 months). When they were born, we immediately took control and took care of them. The babies were so fragile that they were placed in an incubator in the hospital’s neonatal intensive care unit. The children had problems that premature babies naturally have, such as breathing problems and hypoglycaemia. At the moment they are fine, they have no problems. They are still in the incubator because they have to reach neurological maturity, because they have to start eating on their own. They can’t go outside because they’re underweight and very young, and cold can kill them. So they have to stay in the incubator to mature and reach a good weight. Their development is very good and one of them is about to leave the incubator in five days,” said Dr Eloumou. He added that the mother is doing well and doesn’t have any problems and was discharged from the hospital six days after the birth.

For his part, 25-year-old Woumo Michael, father of the triplets, said after the birth of the children, one of his relatives advised him to contact a certain “N’zui Manto” to help them raise funds to pay their bills. “The message I sent to the N’zui Manto was not what I saw him posting on social media. I was very surprised by what I saw. The hospital did not ask us to pay 7 million and they did not imprison my wife and children,” he said.

When CT met Prof. Henry Namme Luma, Director of the Douala General Hospital on 6 February, he explained that they had not demanded 7 million and that the mother of the children had not been locked up in the hospital as reported on social media. He added that the young woman came to the hospital with an emergency and had a caesarean section to give birth to triplets. She was discharged 6 days later. She left the hospital on 20 January. He said the babies are still in the hospital for follow-up and the mother comes to visit them every day.

The director added that the government has invested a lot in the neonatal unit and the cost is much lower compared to other hospitals. “At no time did the hospital ask the woman to pay CFA 7 million. On the contrary, the hospital has provided some basic needs for the children while they are in the incubator,” he said. The director regretted that some unscrupulous individuals were tarnishing the image of the hospital, but added that they were doing their best to provide health care to the population. He reiterated that the cost of health care at the Douala General Hospital is lower compared to other hospitals of the same standings.

“We were not asked to pay CFA 7 million and the hospital did not imprisoned us”.

-Foyete Nhnillase Elza, mother of triplets

“I arrived at the Douala General Hospital on 8 January. A week later, I gave birth to two boys and a girl by caesarean section. I was discharged 6 days later and the children have been in the incubator ever since because they were premature. So far we have received a bill for four hundred thousand CFA. But we see information circulating on social media that the hospital has kept us and is demanding 7 million CFA. It’s a sister of my husband in the village who told us that he knows someone who can help us raise money to pay the bills. She said a certain “N’zui Manto” helps people in situations like this to raise money. I was shocked when I saw N’ zui Manto’s post on social media. He said that the hospital was asking for 7 million and that they had arrested us because we could not pay the money. I was surprised to see the video that the hospital is forcing us to pay the money. These are all lies. The hospital did not force us to pay any bills. The children are alive and well. The first one is already 1.8 kilograms , the second one is 1.7 kilograms. they told us that the children will be leaving soon. I really want to thank the Douala general hospital for everything they have done for us, especially to keep our babies alive. The services are so good. I have been well taken care of since I came. They are not as expensive as people say. We were surprised at the amount we were given as a bill after the time we spent here. I started kangaroo today. And I come to see the children every day. They have started teaching me how to take care of the children at home.

“I plead people of good will to come to our aid.

-Woumo Michael, father of triplets

“I am the father of triplets who are currently in the Douala General Hospital. I am a motorbike rider. I read on social media that the Douala General Hospital has locked us up for the sum of 7 million. I want to inform the public that this is not the case. We are still here because the children are still being treated and cared for and have not yet reached the right weight to leave the hospital. At the moment my motorbike is broken and I am using my friend’s bike to raise money to take care of the children. My wife does not work. I would like to ask people of good will to come to our aid because it will not be easy for us to take care of all three children”.

By GINA ESONG

Health

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