By: SHALLON S. GONLOR
NIMBA COUNTY — Amid appealing calls and concerns from baby mothers detained for unpaid hospital bills at Ganta United Methodist Hospital, a non-profit institution, Girl Power Africa has paid about fourteen babies’ mother’s medical bills.
In a display of humanity beyond words, the founder of Girl Power Africa, Mrs. Bulleh Norkeh released the babies’ mothers to leave the hospital to go home when she presented the huge sum of cash to the hospital management.
At the same time, over 50 babies at two health facilities in Nimba County also benefited from the Girl Power Africa hospital delivery exercise.
The institution’s exercise intended to give babies’ mothers in need diapers, clothes, and other necessities.
Speaking during the donation exercise, the founder of Girl Power Africa, Bulleh Norkeh expressed her heartfelt congratulations to mothers of newborn babies, noting that the materials are intended to initially strengthen them in catering to their kids.
Mrs. Norkeh stressed that the gifts are from her friends abroad in extending their humanitarian hands to others. Meanwhile, the beneficiaries in the Ganta United Methodist Hospital and the George Waye Harley Hospital in Sanniquellie extended appreciation to Girl Power Africa for the gesture.
On Monday, 4 November 2024, at the hospital in Ganta, about 50 who were prevented from leaving the hospital over their unpaid hospital bills appealed to the Government of Liberia and partners, national, and international NGOs, and philanthropists to release them
They admitted to experiencing complications and, after initially attending the government-run-referral health facility they couldn’t pay the bills, saying they were detained against their will for weeks and months. “We are hoping to gain the support of our lawmakers. The detention of mothers by hospitals after the delivery of health services is unlawful, unconstitutional, and a violation of our human rights,” said babies’ mothers.
According to them, detaining low-income baby mothers who are unable to afford to pay for hospital and not allowing them to go home is an inhumane and forbidden treatment and attack against them. “Unable to pay, we can’t be allowed to go home. We had to beg our relatives for help, but they did not have enough to cover the bill,” they stated.
There have been individual cases where the rights of baby mothers have been violated, but it has prompted legislative action. Theresa Johnson was nine months pregnant when she was referred to the Ganta United Methodist Hospital.
Yet, Theresa said, the hospital refused to treat her. “The nurse said, ‘If you do not have [the money], you will not proceed to the operation theatre’,” Theresa said. Her mother took a loan said Theresa, but this did not cover the charge for the bed and blood transfusion. The final bill is put at LR$25,000 dollar.
However, the mother of a month-old baby at the Ganta United Methodist Hospital is appealing to the public to help pay her hospital bill. Theresa Johnson is challenged with her baby girl in the hospital due to the hospital bill she owed after giving birth three months ago.
She noted further that her husband abandoned her at the hospital when he saw the bill, and they ultimately separated. But there are rarely consequences when men fail to meet their responsibilities assigned in the Liberia Domestic Relation Law.
Theresa is, however, calling on philanthropist institutions and individuals in Liberia including prominent citizens of Nimba County to help release her and the baby from the hospital.
Ms. Theresa Johnson with her daughter is detained in the hospital because the family could not pay her medical bill.
Untold Health Stories of Women:
Imprisoning new mothers and babies for nonpayment of hospital bills is a violation of international human rights. Their freedom of movement and their right to liberty are infringed upon. The Liberian Legislatures need to pass legislation that will prohibit detention for failure to pay hospital bills, especially for pre-and postnatal care in health facilities, especially state-run.
Although there is no official data, patient detention is an unfortunate practice that is on the rise in both public and private hospitals as Liberia contends with rising poverty, a rapidly growing population, and a long-neglected healthcare system. Liberian women already face significant barriers to accessing health care, putting them and their babies at greater risk of detention or driving them to avoid seeking care for fear of the consequences.
A survey conducted with new mothers in Nimba County with a population of 621,841, revealed percentages of those who decided not to seek medical treatment in a health facility, citing financial reasons. Until then, new mothers like Theresa, and their babies, are still at risk of being detained in the Ganta United Methodist Hospital.