In a remarkable display of compassion and philanthropy, De Imperial Philanthropic Family (DIPF) has settled medical bills totaling ₦66.4 million for 134 indigent patients who had been detained in hospitals in Enugu and Ebonyi States due to their inability to pay.
The intervention, carried out as part of the group’s ₦500 million Southeast Medical and Educational Intervention Project, brought relief to 72 patients at the Alex Ekwueme Federal University Teaching Hospital (AE-FUTHA) in Abakaliki, Ebonyi State, and 62 patients at the University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital (UNTH), Ituku-Ozalla, Enugu State.
DIPF, a non-governmental organization powered by prominent Southeast entrepreneurs and business leaders, paid ₦43.4 million to secure the release of patients at AE-FUTHA and ₦22.9 million at UNTH.
In addition to clearing their medical debts, the foundation also disbursed transport stipends—₦5.2 million in Ebonyi (₦72,000 per person) and ₦1.8 million in Enugu (₦30,000 per person) to assist beneficiaries in returning home.
Some of the released patients had been held in hospital custody for over a year due to their inability to settle accumulated bills, while others had been denied further treatment for lack of funds to purchase prescribed medications.
Speaking during the presentation ceremony at AE-FUTHA 2, Dr. Darlington Nwabunike, President of DIPF, emphasized the organization’s commitment to alleviating poverty and promoting social welfare across the Southeast.
“De Imperial Philanthropic Family is made up of captains of industry, entrepreneurs, and distinguished individuals from the South East. We came together with the sole aim of saving lives, educating children, and uplifting the poor from grass to grace,” Dr. Nwabunike stated.
He noted that the intervention in Ebonyi was not initiated through a formal request but was divinely inspired.
“When I saw the list of patients and their unpaid bills, it was heartbreaking. But by God’s grace, we are here to help and we will not stop. We are committed to sustained intervention in both healthcare and education,” he added.
Dr. Nwabunike also assured AE-FUTHA management of DIPF’s continued support, noting that similar educational initiatives such as classroom construction and scholarship programs are ongoing in various states across the region.
The Chief Medical Director of AE-FUTHA, Dr. Robinson Onoh, expressed profound gratitude to DIPF for the unsolicited gesture.
“What makes this so remarkable is that we never reached out to them,they came on their own. I want to express my heartfelt appreciation. This support will significantly enhance our service delivery and impact lives in ways we couldn’t have imagined,” he said.
Dr. Onoh also used the occasion to appeal to DIPF for support in the hospital’s planned heart surgery Programme, describing it as a critical area of need in the region.
“You’ve brought joy and hope to patients who had been stranded for months,some for more than a year. Your intervention has lifted a huge burden, and their smiles say it all,” he added.
Later that same day, DIPF extended its intervention to UNTH Enugu, where 62 patients benefited from the payment of outstanding bills and were also given cash support for transportation.
Dr. Nwabunike, speaking to journalists, reiterated that the gesture was part of the group’s broader ₦500 million medical relief project spanning five Southeast states.
“We’ve come to set free patients who were discharged but couldn’t go home due to unpaid bills. Some have stopped receiving treatment because they couldn’t afford medications. Today, 62 of them will leave this hospital. We’ve paid their bills—₦22.9 million and each will receive ₦30,000 to return to their communities,” he explained.
He added that similar visits are planned for Abia and Imo States, as DIPF continues to roll out its regional healthcare and education support initiative.
Elder Kelvin Ekenedilichukwu Ihebuike, a member of DIPF and native of Ezeagu LGA in Enugu State, reiterated the organization’s mission.
“Our goal is to support the underprivileged. We are building schools, awarding scholarships to brilliant but poor students, and ensuring no one is left behind,” he said.
The Chief Medical Director of UNTH, Prof. Obinna Onodugo, represented by Dr. Charles Nonyelu, praised the intervention, describing it as the most impactful by any NGO in the hospital’s history.
“The current NHIS system has failed to meet the needs of ordinary Nigerians. This donation will be channeled appropriately to improve patient care,” he assured.
Also speaking, Prof. Bessy Nwagha, a professor of dermatology at UNTH, commended DIPF’s efforts and mentioned the establishment of a UNTH Foundation, a platform to seek external support for indigent patients.
As the beneficiaries were discharged, the atmosphere was filled with songs of praise and thanksgiving. Many of them, some having stayed in the hospital for more than three months post-discharge due to unpaid bills, expressed deep gratitude to the Foundation.
Mr. Sunday Masomachi, one of the beneficiaries, captured the sentiment best:“Words are not enough to thank De Imperial Philanthropic Family. May God bless and reward you abundantly. You have changed our lives, and we will never forget this day.”added.
