Babcock University Teaching Hospital in Ilisan Remo has initiated a search for the children of Mr. Maurice Okpenyong, an 81-year-old patient left abandoned at the facility, as stated in a press release by Dr. Joshua Suleiman, the university’s Director of Communication, shared with journalists on Saturday.
Okpenyong, a native of Obot Akara Local Government Area in Akwa Ibom State, was admitted with a diagnosis of Repeat Suprapubic Cystostomy. Despite being discharged in December 2023, his children, a man and a woman, have declined to take him home, leading to a significant increase in his medical bills from N399,320 upon discharge to N1,279,350 as of March 20, 2024.
Efforts to locate Okpenyong’s son, Lawrence, and daughter have been unsuccessful, with the hospital collaborating with local law enforcement agencies to no avail.
The hospital’s decision to publicize Okpenyong’s situation aims to prompt his family to take him home, as the hospital can no longer ensure his welfare. Okpenyong’s behavior has become disruptive and even abusive, making his continued care within the hospital challenging. Measures have been taken to monitor him closely, considering concerns of potential absconding.