‘Nigeria finally happened to me’ — Mother cries out after son’s death
By Anthonia Okonkwo
A grieving mother has recounted how she allegedly struggled to secure medical care for her son at the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital (LASUTH) before his death, saying she had also become a victim of Nigeria’s healthcare crisis.
In a video that went viral on Sunday, the woman, who was visibly distraught and in tears, narrated the events surrounding her son’s final days and alleged that the hospital turned them away after she brought him there for treatment.
According to her, hospital officials told her there was no available bed space for her son, prompting her to plead with the management to allow her bring a bed from home so he could receive treatment at the facility.
She further alleged that fewer than 50 beds were available at the hospital when she made inquiries, but her request to provide a bed for her son was reportedly rejected.
The mother also claimed that her son received some treatment, including intravenous fluids administered while he remained in a car, before the family was eventually advised to seek further care at another hospital.
Recounting the family’s efforts to save his life, she said they had previously spent about ₦30 million on his treatment at a private hospital before seeking care at LASUTH.
Expressing her grief over the loss, the mother described the experience as devastating, saying, “Nigeria finally happened to me.”
Her account has since sparked reactions online, with several people expressing concern about access to emergency medical care and the availability of beds in public hospitals. The allegations contained in the video, however, have not been independently verified, while LASUTH’s official website states that the hospital operates 24 hours and provides medical and surgical emergency services.
