From Fred Ezeh, Abuja
A philanthropist and businesswoman, Mrs. Juliet Rolbin, last week, put smiles on the faces of large number of patients at the National Hospital, Abuja, who were “detained” in different wards of the hospital for their inability to offset their hospital bills.
The philanthropist was guided on a tour of different wards in the hospital by the officials of the Social Welfare Department of the hospital, where the cash gifts were donated to the patients to either procure drugs or for other upkeep.
While some of the bills were paid in full with additional stipends to the patients, arrangements were made for special intervention for patients with complicated cases.
At the oncology (cancer), gynecology, children, and male medical wards, she made cash donations to five cancer patients who could not continue their treatment due to lack of funds.
Mrs. Rolbin, however, told journalists that the outreach was part of her routine activities every year, and she does that, once or twice, annually, as the case may be, and it was not because she has enough financial resources to give out but because she feels the pains and anguish of the patients, hence the need to reach them from her little resources.
She said: “You could see that some people could not go home after treatment because of hospital bill that is as little as N15,000, N20,000 and little above. I am happy that I could help in my little way. The joy and smile on their faces is the fulfillment I have.
“Imagine that more people take up similar outreach at different hospitals or locations across FCT and beyond, things would be better. Many of these patients might have spent their entire life savings on ailment, and just hoping on God for intervention. Besides, we don’t have efficient health insurance system to carter for these people. We are now the god they see and have, hence the need to help.
Speaking on behalf of the National Hospital Abuja, Maijama’a Adamu, an Assistant Director in the hospital, thanked Mrs. Rolbin for the donation, saying that it came in timely for many of the patients who could not afford treatment.
Adamu and the Social Welfare Department of the hospital presented Mrs. Rolbin gifts from the hospital in appreciation of her gesture.
Meanwhile, some of the patients appreciated and prayed for the donor that God should continue to bless her richly, and replenish her pocket for more philanthropic intervention.
Mr. Akila, father of the newborn baby in the incubator, thanked Mrs. Rolbin for the donation, saying it has brought them succour and will enable his wife to go home. He prayed God to bless the donor.
Another patient, Elizabeth Kingsley, said the donation will enable her to continue treatment for her ailment.
Similarly, Giteli Bose said she had not been able to go home to take care of her newborn because of her inability to pay the hospital bill, and prayed God to bless the donor for giving her opportunity to go home that day.