A visually impaired nursing mother, Perpetual Agyenim Boateng, 38, has been detained at the New Abirim government hospital in the Eastern region for fail­ing to pay a Ghc40.00 medical bill incurred after delivering a baby boy.

Information gathered by the DAILY HERITAGE indicates that the blind woman bled profusely after delivery and was given emergency care, however, some medications served her during the emergency care were not captured by the National Health Insurance Scheme NHIS), hence, the Ghc40.00 bill.

The woman could not afford to pay and has been detained by the hospital authorities until the debt is settled.

The visually impaired nursing mother is, therefore, appealing for financial assistance from the general public.

A midwife at the Hospital who spoke under strict condition of anonymity told the reporter that "the patient is asking for financial assistance. She just needs Ghc40.00 to pay for her drugs, which do not fall under NHIS."

"She delivered a baby boy and was bleeding, hence, needed emergency care.

She was given the medication at that instance, but unable to pay for them and has been detained," the midwife confirmed.

As at press time when the story was being filed, a Non-Governmental Organization (NGO) promoting maternal and children health known as Devine Mother and Child Care Foundation has hinted of going to the rescue of the visually impaired nursing mother.

The Founder of the NGO, Edmund Duodu when contacted confirmed to the reporter that a meeting has been scheduled with the authorities of the hospital to enable settlement of the medical bills to discharge the visually impaired patient.

He described the situation as un­fortunate with a call on government to revive or institute pro-poor policies that will encourage women to attend antenatal and post-natal care in medical facilities to help curb maternal mortality rate in the country.

He stated that as soon as poverty becomes obstacle to quality health care then it is envisaged that cloud will be forming in the air as far as maternal health is concerned.

He called on donors and the benevolent to support the foundation to undertake its numerous initiatives in rural areas in the Eastern region, in particular, in the quest of helping the fight against maternal mortality and child morbidity.