A middle-aged man, Sunday Odinaka, has reportedly abandoned his wife, Evelyn, after she gave birth to a set of triplets in a private hospital in Okpoko, Ogbaru Local Government Area of Anambra State.
The man who is a native of Ubaraekwem, Ihiala LGA of the state, was said to have fled his residence on Obodoukwu Road following his inability to meet up with the hospital bill of over N450,000.
The couple reportedly have four kids who were withdrawn from school due to financial constraints.
Narrating her ordeal to journalists on Thursday in the hospital, Evelyn, a petty trader, said her husband, who had expected only a baby from the pregnancy, disappeared after telling the hospital management he was going to bring the money.
She said;
Before I gave birth to the triplets, there was nothing in the house to eat. I sell sachet water and my husband has no job. Sometimes, he will do some menial jobs from which we eat.
We have been living from hand to mouth until the arrival of the triplets and the trouble became worse. My husband has been complaining about how to afford the hospital bill even before I gave birth, believing I will deliver just one baby.
But on seeing three of them, coupled with the four we have already, he fled. It’s going to two weeks now. Worse still, he has no phone through which we can reach him.
Evelyn added;
I’m sure my husband abandoned us because of the N450,000 bill he was asked to pay so I can be referred to a specialist hospital due to complications I had.”
Mrs. Odinaka said her daughter who usually goes home to bring hot water to bathe the triplets said she has not seen her father.
She added;
My daughter said somebody told her that her father swore never to return until he was sure the hospital bill was paid.
Though the nursing mother has been able to raise N50,000 from friends and well-wishers, she appealed to the governor’s wife, Mrs. Ebelechukwu Obiano, to assist her.
The petty trader expressed;
Before my husband fled, he submitted a letter to the govenor’s wife and Office of the Commissioner for Women Affairs and Children Welfare, that I gave birth to triplets and needed help, but no response. That may be part of the frustration that forced him to flee.
On his part, Chairman of the Civil Liberties Organisation (CLO), Comrade Vincent Ezekwueme expressed that the family was in dire need of help, not only to offset the hospital bill, but to feed the babies as well.
He also appealed that the husband be helped with gainful employment.
