Catholic hospital begs el-Rufai to settle N18.2m crises victims’ bill

St. Gerard’s Catholic Hospital, Kaduna, has appealed to the state government to offset the N18.2 million bill incurred by victims of recent communal and post-election crises in the state.

The state government, which The Guardian gathered, had promised to pick the bills, reportedly failed to pay the bill, even after several visits and appeals to the ministry of health.

Several persons were killed and many others injured in October last year during a communal clash at Kasuwan Magani in Kajuru Council, which later spread to the metropolis, attracting curfew from the state government.

Addressing a press conference yesterday, during the training of management staff on work ethics and professionalism, the hospital administrator, Rev. Sr. Beatrice Danladi, said the state government owed the hospital N6.1 million for the treatment of victims of Kasuwan Magani crisis.

Represented by the public relations executive of the hospital, Sunday Ali, the administrator said the government also owed the hospital N12.1 million incurred by victims of the 2011 post-election violence and those of the derailed train in Kakau area of Kaduna city.

She added that the N12.1 million was also part of medical bill of those that were attacked at a police station in Kujama and the children electrocuted in Kakuri in 2012.

“We want to use this avenue to express our gratitude to the executive governor of Kaduna State, Mallam Nasiru el-Rufai, for his relentless services to the people of Kaduna, especially in the area of health.

“However, we are making a passionate appeal to the governor for quick release of these monies, as several visits to the state’s ministry of health could not yield fruit,” the administrator said.

Besides, a letter dated November 13, 2018 and entitled ‘Release of Funds for Balance of Outstanding Medical Bills’ from the office of the governor’s principal private secretary (PPS) was made available to journalists.

The letter signed by the PSP,Salisu Suleiman and copied the commissioner of planning and budget, read in part: “I am directed to convey the approval of His Excellency, the governor, for the release of N12.180,779 subject to compliance with financial rules and regulations to the commissioner, ministry of health and human services, Kaduna, for the purpose stated therein.

“Accordingly, you are further directed to expedite action, please.”

The letter was also copied to the commissioners of finance, health and human services.