Relief came to 134 indigent patients detained in hospitals across Enugu and Ebonyi States over unpaid medical bills after the De Imperial Philanthropic Family (DIPF), a non-governmental organization made up of prominent Southeast entrepreneurs, paid ₦66.4 million to clear their debts.
The intervention is part of DIPF’s ₦500 million Southeast Medical and Educational Intervention Project.
72 patients at the Alex Ekwueme Federal University Teaching Hospital (AE-FUTHA) in Abakaliki benefitted from the gesture with 62 patients at the University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital (UNTH), Ituku-Ozalla, Enugu.
DIPF disbursed ₦43.4 million to AE-FUTHA and ₦22.9 million to UNTH, settling accumulated bills for patients who had been held in hospital custody for months, many of them for over a year due to inability to pay.
In addition, the group provided transportation stipends totaling ₦7 million, giving each beneficiary ₦72,000 in Ebonyi and ₦30,000 in Enugu to aid their return home.
At the presentation in Abakaliki, Dr. Darlington Nwabunike, President of DIPF, said the initiative reflected the group’s mission to lift people out of poverty and improve access to healthcare and education in the Southeast.
“De Imperial Philanthropic Family is made up of captains of industry and professionals from the region who came together to save lives, educate children, and uplift the poor from grass to grace,” Dr. Nwabunike said.
Unpaid bills were heartbroken
“When I saw the list of patients and their unpaid bills, it was heartbreaking. By God’s grace, we are here to help—and we will not stop.”
He emphasized that the gesture was not a response to a formal request but a divinely inspired act of compassion.
According to him, DIPF’s interventions will be sustained, with plans for continuous medical and educational support across the five Southeast states.
The Chief Medical Director of AE-FUTHA, Dr. Robinson Onoh, described the donation as unprecedented, noting that the hospital did not solicit the support.
“What makes this remarkable is that they came on their own. This will significantly enhance our service delivery and bring hope to families who had lost it,” he said.
Dr. Onoh appealed to the organization to consider supporting the hospital’s proposed heart surgery programme, describing it as a critical area of need in the region.
Later in the day, the team visited UNTH in Enugu, where 62 patients also regained freedom after DIPF settled their debts and gave them cash for transport.
Speaking with journalists, Dr. Nwabunike reaffirmed that the intervention was part of a larger ₦500 million regional relief project.
Sent to set patients free
“We came to set free those discharged but unable to leave because of unpaid bills.
“Some stopped receiving treatment because they couldn’t afford their drugs. Today, 62 of them will finally go home,” he said.
He added that similar exercises would be conducted in Abia and Imo States, as the foundation continues to expand its medical and educational outreach.
Kelvin Ekenedilichukwu Ihebuike, a member of DIPF from Enugu State, restated the organization’s broader vision.
“Our mission is simple—to support the underprivileged. We are building schools, funding scholarships for brilliant but poor students, and ensuring that no one is left behind,” he said.
At UNTH, the Chief Medical Director, Prof. Obinna Onodugo, represented by Dr. Charles Nonyelu, praised the foundation’s humanitarian gesture.
He described it as the most impactful intervention by any NGO in the hospital’s history.
“This support comes at a time when many patients are unable to benefit from the existing health insurance system. It will go a long way to improve patient care,” Dr. Nonyelu said.
Bessy Nwagha, a professor of dermatology at UNTH, also commending DIPF revealed that the hospital had established a foundation to attract similar support for indigent patients.
As the beneficiaries were discharged, the atmosphere turned emotional, with songs of praise echoing through the wards.
Freedom at last
Many of them, who had spent months in hospital after being declared fit for discharge, expressed joy and gratitude.
One of them, Mr. Sunday Masomachi, summed up the mood: “Words are not enough to thank De Imperial Philanthropic Family.
“You have changed our lives and restored our dignity. We will never forget this day.”
Through this intervention, the De Imperial Philanthropic Family has not only cleared debts but also restored hope to dozens of struggling families.
It has demonstrated that philanthropy, when rooted in compassion, can transform lives and rekindle faith in humanity.
