There was an outpouring of joy and thanksgiving on Wednesday at Meridian Hospital, D-Line, Port Harcourt, as Baby Miracle and his grandmother were finally released after more than a year of being held over unpaid hospital bills.
The emotional moment marked the end of a heartbreaking ordeal that had gripped public attention and drawn wide condemnation from human rights advocates and concerned Nigerians. The release followed sustained media pressure and the timely intervention of the Rivers State Commissioner for Health, Dr. Adaeze Chidinma Oreh, who stepped in to resolve the matter.
Baby Miracle was born prematurely at seven months after his mother, Mrs. Chiamaka, a 36-year-old Port Harcourt resident, went into sudden labour and was rushed to Meridian Hospital, D-Line — the headquarters of the hospital chain. Tragically, Mrs. Chiamaka died from complications shortly after delivery, leaving behind her fragile infant.
The baby spent four months in the hospital’s intensive care unit, during which medical bills accumulated to ₦6 million. The bereaved family managed to pay ₦1.4 million, but the hospital allegedly refused to release the baby and his maternal grandmother, who had stayed as his caregiver, until the outstanding ₦4.6 million was cleared.
For over a year, the duo remained confined within the hospital premises, sparking outrage and appeals from the public. The case gained renewed attention after a passionate open letter titled “Urgent Appeal: Help Secure the Release of Detained Grandmother and Baby at Meridian Hospital” was sent to media houses, including Arise News. The letter described their detention as “inhumane and a violation of human rights,” urging the media and authorities to intervene.
Following the public outcry, Meridian Hospital entered discussions with the family, supported by civic groups and the state health ministry. The hospital eventually granted a 50 percent discount on the remaining bill and agreed to a structured repayment plan. Under the new arrangement, Baby Miracle’s father, Mr. Ugochukwu, will remit ₦50,000 monthly until the balance is cleared.
Expressing gratitude after the release, Dr. (Mrs.) Tari Bozimo, who had championed the appeal, thanked the media, the Rivers State Commissioner for Health, and members of the public for their compassion and persistence.
“The atmosphere was filled with gratitude, relief, and thanksgiving, a true testament to the power of collective action,” Dr. Bozimo said.
“We deeply appreciate Meridian Hospital for listening to the voice of the people and acting in the spirit of humanity.”
She prayed for God’s blessings upon Baby Miracle, saying, “May the Lord bless and keep him, cause His face to shine upon him, and grant him a life filled with health, joy, and divine favor.”
With their release, the case of Baby Miracle and his grandmother stands as a reminder of the urgent need for empathy and reform in hospital billing and patient rights across Nigeria.
