A pregnant woman, Aisha Najamu, has passed away at the Turai Umaru Musa Yar’adua Maternity and Children Hospital in Katsina State after a health worker reportedly rejected a bank transfer for oxygen payment, insisting that only cash was acceptable.
The incident occurred on Monday when the woman arrived in urgent need of oxygen.
An eyewitness told Channels Television on Friday that the cashier on duty refused to process the payment or issue a receipt because the patient did not have cash, citing the hospital’s rule against accepting transfers.
A man who attempted to intervene allegedly pleaded with the cashier to allow a transfer so treatment could begin, but the cashier maintained that the policy must be strictly followed.
The witness added that he later offered to pay extra and even presented a $100 bill, yet the cashier still declined.
He described the situation as “deeply distressing,” noting that the woman cried for help until she died around 11:30 p.m.
The hospital’s management said they had not received an official complaint except one forwarded by a human-rights group, IHRAAC. Cashier Aminu Kofar-Bai expressed condolences and said the hospital would visit the family and investigate any staff member involved.
Hospital officials defended their payment rule, saying Katsina State’s TSA guidelines forbid staff from accepting transfers into personal accounts. They also explained that the hospital lacks POS machines and operates strictly with cash.
They further admitted to a shortage of medical oxygen, which is often sourced from Daura LGA.
Head of Pharmacy, Usman Salisu Wada, acknowledged that oxygen supply is limited and suggested the staff involved “may have over-adhered” to the policy out of fear of being accused of misconduct.
Channels Television also learned that issues such as poor patient management, slow emergency response, negligence, and rigid enforcement of internal rules are common in state-run health facilities, discouraging many from seeking care there.