A support group for the All Progressives Congress (APC) presidential candidate, Bola Tinubu, has settled the bills of 40 patients who were on admission in the popular Kubwa General Hospital in the Federal Capital Territory.
The initiative was conducted in the presence of the Medical Director, Dr. Lasisi Muyideen and some hospital’s matrons on Thursday.
Addressing newsmen after they left the paediatric and maternity wards, Convener of the Bola Ahmed Tinubu Vanguard, Shola Olofin, said the outreach, which was christened BAT Cares, was kicked off in July.
Olofin further disclosed that the vision was to cater for the downtrodden, especially critically-ill patients on admission who could not afford to pay bills for good healthcare.
He said, “The BAT Vanguard are here for the purpose of providing outreach for the downtrodden, especially critically-ill patients on admission who cannot afford to pay bills for good healthcare.
“We understand the plights the less privileged are passing through and would appreciate all the support they can get. This is why we are here.
“Of course, we are well acquainted with Asiwaju’s antecedents on the issue of healthcare. This is one of the reasons our members are encouraged to visit general and national hospitals across the country including the Federal Capital to show empathy and financial assistance for patients on admission.”
The team, which was led on inspection of the paediatric and maternity wards by some matrons and the chief medical director attended to over 23 patients including pregnant women who were each handed an envelope containing money to clear their medical bills.
Defending the need to hand the cash directly to patients, Olofin disclosed that they wanted to avoid the familiar sob stories of how money disbursed did not get to the targeted beneficiaries.
“We have so far attended to 40 patients in National Hospital and Kubwa General Hospitals alone,” he said.