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A Ugandan businessman who was last week wheeled into a banking hall to withdraw cash meant for his hospital bill has passed away.
John Zabazungu succumbed to an undisclosed illness at Mulago Specialized Women and Neonatal Hospital on Sunday afternoon, his daughter Molly Nakato confirmed as reported by Ugandan publication Daily Monitor.
A photo of Zabazungu in a wheelchair and connected to nasal cannulas and oxygen mask at Equity Bank branch in Kampala, Uganda went viral on social media a week ago, sparking online outrage.
In a press briefing, the patient’s family accused Equity Bank of denying them access to his bank accounts, claiming that the deceased’s health status worsened as a result of the bank’s action.
“It led him to develop pneumonia and he was admitted in intensive care unit and we have never seen him again, yet his health had improved greatly,” Zabazungu son Benjamin said.
In defense, Equity Bank said Zabazungu’s family decided to take him to the bank as the institution worked on how they could withdraw cash without his physical presence.
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Problem with blacks especially Africans we believe in getting everything for free, it’s the matter of responsibility and accountability, He had money in bank and feels like he deserves free medical care? This reminds me a former friend of mine who owns 25 rental properties in Nairobi, his beloved wife needed an emergency surgery for tumor in brain ( I honestly advised him to sell one of the properties since the harambees we made didn’t raise enough cash to to cover the costs) he became furious and damned mad at me forever, one thing I would honestly tell him, if you got money and you feel medical attention is way super expensive, then keep your money and patient at home miracles might happen at no cost
Surely, with today's technology,you could have a bank official come to the hospital with his laptop,and do some magic,intead of wheeling asking man to the bank.
But most important is the lack of"humanity" on the hospital side.Iknow they have to be paid for their services,but come on, the fellow is still sick.Think of payment when the fellow gets better,or passes on...
Now I wonder,are indigents treated half heartedly?
Problem with blacks especially Africans we believe in getting everything for free, it’s the matter of responsibility and accountability, He had money in bank and feels like he deserves free medical care? This reminds me a former friend of mine who owns 25 rental properties in Nairobi, his beloved wife needed an emergency surgery for tumor in brain ( I honestly advised him to sell one of the properties since the harambees we made didn’t raise enough cash to to cover the costs) he became furious and damned mad at me forever, one thing I would honestly tell him, if you got money and you feel medical attention is way super expensive, then keep your money and patient at home miracles might happen at no cost
U sympathize with the family but the action of the bank had nothing to do with pneumonia. If the man succumbed to hypertension or such we would agree the bank frustrated him and ended up getting high blood pressure but scientifically, pneumonia has nothing to do with stress.
Greedy hospital .The bank is also to blame .They would have sent one of their tellers or CSR or bank manager mwenyewe if they thought that the family was trying to cone him.Family must sue one or both the guy is gone but this should serve as an example .
In countries like Kenya and Uganda where money is required upfront before care services are offered, it helps to have another signatory or joint bank açcount in place otherwise you could cross the great divide with millions in the bank which really does not make much sense. Why did they wheel the man to the bank instead of him writing a cheque to one of them? Are they so untrustworthy? You cannot blame the bank for foolishness. Their laws are clearly written down so don't expect any changes when in dire straits.