A private medical facility in Lagos, As Salam Convalescent Centre, has refuted allegations that it demanded an upfront payment of N500,000 before attending to a pregnant woman, Kemi, who tragically passed away due to pregnancy-related complications.
The deceased woman’s husband, Akinbobola Folajimi, made the accusation in a widely circulated video, claiming that the hospital turned them away because he was unable to make the requested deposit.
In the emotional footage, Kemi appeared frail and was seated inside a car while her distraught husband desperately tried to keep her conscious.
Calling her name repeatedly, he pleaded, “My goodness! Kemi, look at me. Stay strong; look at me. Think about your kids, please. You need to be forceful for me.”
According to Folajimi, after being denied care at the private hospital, they were referred to the General Hospital in Epe, but Kemi did not survive the journey.
He recounted the ordeal in a social media post, stating, “The doctor told me to deposit N500,000, and I begged him to start doing whatever was needed to save my wife while I ran around for the money. But they drove us out like they didn’t care.
“Unfortunately, they blindly rejected us and asked me to take her to the General Hospital at Epe, even though the doctor knew that Epe from Lakwe is way too far for her condition. Before we rushed her to Epe, she was gone.”
The heartbreaking video quickly gained traction online, triggering widespread condemnation of the hospital and calls for stricter accountability in the medical sector.
However, in an exclusive telephone interview with The PUNC on Thursday, the hospital’s founder, Rauf Salami, dismissed the claims, asserting that no financial discussion took place during the brief period the family spent at the facility.
Salami explained, “On the day in question, a pregnant woman was brought to our centre. My colleague on duty reported that she had convulsed twice at home before arrival. Upon examination, it was clear that she required immediate blood transfusion and surgical attention.
“Given the complexity of the case, we advised the husband to take her to the Epe General Hospital, which is better equipped to handle such emergencies. We did not at any time demand any payment, as we prioritise the patient’s urgent need for specialised care.”
He further stated that Kemi was not a registered patient at the facility and had never visited before.
“We referred her to a more suitable facility immediately after she was brought in, without even transferring her from the wheelchair used to bring her in. Regrettably, the following Monday, I saw a misleading post by the woman’s husband on TikTok, claiming that our facility had rejected his wife.”
Salami admitted that the backlash had been overwhelming, saying, “Going by the reactions to what happened, it may frustrate one to the point of contemplating suicide because it was deeply frustrating. But that notwithstanding, people have been telling me to sue him. I could do that because I have my evidence.”
He reiterated that the woman was already in a critical state upon arrival and that the hospital lacked the necessary resources to treat her.
“The woman was not registered in the hospital. We didn’t know her. When they brought her in, we discovered it was something we could not handle. If we had given her just one drip that day, she could have died because there was no blood left in her body.
“And to get blood in this medical profession is not something you can just go to the counter and demand. So, we advised him to take her to a facility where she could be properly cared for. They didn’t spend more than three to four minutes before they left.”
Salami also speculated that Kemi might not have been receiving antenatal care, which could have contributed to her deteriorating condition.
He stated, “I don’t think the woman was registered in any hospital because if she had been receiving treatment during her antenatal period, she wouldn’t have been in that condition. We asked them to go to the general hospital because it was something we could not handle.”
Despite the controversy, Salami maintained that he had accepted the situation with faith.
“I am a Muslim, and whatever comes a Muslim’s way, the best thing to say is ‘Inna lillahi wa inna ilayhi raji’un’ (Indeed, to Allah we belong, and to Him we shall return),” he said, expressing confidence that his long-time patrons in the community would vouch for his integrity.
