The Executive Chairman of Epe Local Government, Princess Surah Olayemi Animashaun, has come to the aid of several indigent patients at the Federal Medical Centre (FMC), Epe, by offsetting their outstanding medical bills.
The intervention, which took place earlier this week, brought relief to patients who had remained in hospital despite being medically fit for discharge, simply due to their inability to settle their medical expenses.
Among the beneficiaries were a young man with a gunshot wound, a diabetic patient unable to access consistent treatment, a woman recovering from Spontaneous Vaginal Delivery (SVD), and a mother whose preterm baby required continued neonatal care. Others included a man suffering from a limb fracture who had been unable to afford the cost of treatment.
Mrs. Moses Victoria, one of the beneficiaries, expressed her gratitude, recalling her experience with emotion. “My baby came too soon, and we didn’t have money for food, let alone hospital bills. Every day I prayed and cried, watching others go home. Then a nurse came and said my bills had been paid by the Chairman. I broke down. It was like a miracle,” she said.
In a statement following the intervention, Princess. Animashaun emphasized that her action was driven by a sense of duty and the belief that access to healthcare should not depend on financial status.
“This is not charity; it is responsibility. Leadership must respond to the distress of the people. As long as I remain in office, no life in Epe will be left to suffer simply because of poverty,” she said.
This latest act is part of a broader pattern of community-focused governance under Hon. Animashaun’s leadership, which has included free medical outreaches, support for education, and infrastructure development across Epe.
Her tenure continues to receive commendation from residents and stakeholders alike for its commitment to inclusive and compassionate governance.