A pregnant woman identified as Aisha Najamu has died at the Turai Umaru Musa Yar’adua Maternity and Children Hospital in Katsina after medical staff allegedly refused to accept a bank transfer for oxygen payment, insisting on cash.
The incident has generated significant public outrage and renewed concerns over hospital payment practices in emergency situations.
According to witnesses, Najamu required urgent medical intervention and oxygen support.
Her family attempted to pay for the oxygen through bank transfer when they were unable to immediately produce cash.
Hospital staff reportedly rejected the payment method and insisted that only cash would be accepted before treatment could proceed.
The delay in processing the payment allegedly resulted in a critical loss of time.
Witnesses claim that attempts to convince staff to proceed with care while payment was processed were ignored.
The woman later died, leaving her family devastated and demanding accountability.
Local residents and rights activists have condemned the incident, describing it as unacceptable and avoidable.
They argue that no hospital should prioritise cash payments over saving lives, especially during emergencies involving pregnant women.
The incident has been widely shared across social media platforms, prompting calls for a full investigation.
The Katsina State Government has not yet issued an official statement.
However, officials from the state health sector are expected to address the matter as pressure mounts from civil society organisations.
Many Nigerians have demanded that the hospital management review its payment policies and impose disciplinary actions on any staff found to have acted negligently.
Medical professionals have also reacted to the incident.
Some have argued that hospitals should have flexible payment systems, especially in life threatening situations.
They say that insisting on cash payments during emergencies undermines the fundamental principles of medical ethics and endangers patients.
The death of Najamu has reignited national debate on the state of maternal healthcare in Nigeria.
Analysts have pointed out that delays in receiving medical attention remain a major cause of maternal mortality.
They emphasise that administrative obstacles should never stand in the way of urgent care.
The family of the deceased has appealed for justice and for reforms that will prevent similar tragedies.
They insist that no family should lose a loved one because of a payment method dispute.
Public advocacy groups have signalled their intention to follow the case closely until a clear response is provided by authorities.
