Mentally ill pregnant woman denied treatment

Medical staff at the Ad Lucem hospital in the Douala One District on Monday, May 9, 2016,turned away a pregnant woman who was laboring. The medical team present at the hospital came out to tell the helpers who had accompanied the lady in a "wheel barrow" that they do not have facilities to admit mentally ill patients.

The helper who brought the lady to the hospital recalls this: "I was shopping not far from Bali, I watched for a few minutes a young lady sitting on the tarmac showing signs of laboring, i found it abnormal to let her give birth to her child on the open unsuitable environment, that's why I quickly took action to bring her to the nearest hospital so she can receive attention, unfortunately the nurses/midwives do not want to take care of her because she is mentally ill,"it is sad.


After long deliberations with the nurses,the director of the hospital came out to adjust the story by saying, there is no gynecologist available : "The gynecologist who is on duty is in the operating room.I ill recommend you take her elsewhere because you are running out of time, " words from the hospital director. Despite numerous pleads from concerned onlookers, the medical staff stood to their words.

With hopes fading, onlookers quickly donated cash for taxi fare and the pregnant lady was rushed to a different hospital.