A pregnant woman, Aisha Najamu, has died at the Umaru Musa Yar’Adua International Hospital, Katsina, after staff reportedly refused to accept a bank transfer for emergency oxygen payment, insisting on cash before treatment.
Eyewitnesses told Katsina Times that the woman arrived at the hospital in critical condition and required immediate ventilator support. However, the cashier allegedly declined to process a mobile transfer because the family did not have cash, insisting that hospital policy prohibits accepting transfers.
A man who attempted to intervene said he pleaded with the employee to accept a transfer and even offered to cover the entire bill. When that failed, he reportedly offered the staff member $100 to allow the payment to go through, but the staffer still refused, citing fear of violating the hospital’s rules.
Witnesses said that while relatives and bystanders were still struggling to raise cash, Aisha continued crying for help. She died shortly after, without receiving the needed oxygen.
When contacted, the hospital management acknowledged receiving only one formal complaint—submitted by the Human Rights Watch (IHRAAC). A representative, Aminu Ibrahim Kofar Bai, expressed condolences and promised that the management would visit the deceased’s family and investigate any staff found culpable.
The hospital, however, defended its staff, saying the Katsina State government’s Treasury Single Account (TSA) policy prevents them from accepting bank transfers and that the facility currently lacks a POS machine. The pharmacy head, Perm Usman Salisu Wada, added that the employee involved was “strictly following the rules,” noting that some patients he previously assisted ended up refusing to pay after recovery.
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