Hospital detains three more mothers over unpaid medical bills

Three more mothers are stuck at Bishop Ceaser Asili Memorial Hospital for over a month over unpaid medical bills.
They are Lois Ajalu, Aisha Nakanjako and Annet Nalwadda, all residents of Luweero District.
The three mothers delivered through C-section and were retained by the hospital for failure to clear their medical bills. The mothers have spent between one and three months at Ceaser Asili Memorial Hospital.

Ms Ajalu owes the hospital Shs600,000, Ms Nakanjako Shs360,000 and Ms Nalwadda Shs480,000. According to Ms Nakanjako, shortly after her delivery, the hospital asked for Shs460,000 but her husband was only able to raise Shs100,000. She says she pleaded with the hospital to release her to go and look for the balance in vain.
Ms Nalwadda, another mother also says she pleaded with the hospital to let her go and look for the money in vain. Ms Nalwadda broke up with her husband before delivery and is currently surviving on handouts from friends. Ms Ajalu has spent the last three months at the hospital for failure to pay Shs600,000. Ajalu, who regrets giving birth in the hospital for long, says she feels stressed.

The three mothers have asked the Health Ministry to come to their rescue, saying they are too poor to afford the medical bills.
Ms Winnie Kiiza, the Leader of the Opposition yesterday rushed to Luweero together with the area woman MP, Lilian Nakate and their Lira counterpart, Joy Atim to rescue, Ms Stella Adong who had been held by the same facility for failing to pay Shs495,000.
Ms Adong delivered twins five mother ago but was retained by the hospital after failing to clear the medical bill. Ms Kiiza asked the hospital to release Adong, saying the Health State Minister, Joyce Moriku has promised to clear her medical bills.
Ms Nakate said although Ms Adong had been discharged, she had nowhere to go because her family was evicted over accumulated rental arrears. The legislator then decided to stay with Adong temporarily as they trace for her parents in Nwoya District, where she hails from.

Sister Ernestine Akullu, the administrator of Bishop Ceaser Asili Memorial Hospital declined to speak to journalists and also blocked her staff from doing so, saying the media is tarnishing the image of the facility.
However, in her interaction with the MPs, Sister Akullu noted that they are overwhelmed by a high number of patients who are unable to pay for the medical services.
Akullu said they are stuck with unpaid medical bills amounting to Shs50 million, saying they only receive Shs21 million under Primary Health Care from government, which can't help either.
Bishop Ceaser Asili Memorial is private Catholic Church founded hospital based in Luweero town.