FIDAP Cares pays medical bills for 25 stranded LASUTH patients

… Calls for stronger support system for vulnerable Nigerians
By Chioma Obinna

As part of intervention to reduce the worsening crisis of indigent patients trapped in hospitals over unpaid medical bills, FIDAP Cares on Tuesday secured the release of about 25 stranded patients at the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital, LASUTH, by settling their outstanding hospital bills running into several millions of naira.

The intervention, which reunited patients with their families after days and, in some cases, weeks of prolonged stay despite being medically discharged, has again exposed the harsh realities confronting vulnerable Nigerians amid rising healthcare costs and weak social protection systems.

Speaking, the Founder of FIDAP Cares, Mrs Tosin Adedeji, said the initiative was inspired by the growing need for structured and sustainable support for vulnerable members of society who are unable to access or complete healthcare due to financial hardship.

“A world full of kindness would be heaven. A world full of giving would be paradise. Looking around our world, there is so much we can do to help those around us. Over time, what began as a passion for helping people has become a calling. I have come to realise that the needs around us are not isolated moments; they are recurring patterns. And patterns deserve more than individual responses, they deserve institutions.”

Adedeji explained that FIDAP Cares, an initiative of the Foundation for Impactful Development and Progress, FIDAP, was established to bridge the gap between despair and hope, hardship and relief, as well as vulnerability and opportunity through timely humanitarian interventions.

According to her, the organisation seeks not only to provide immediate relief but also to inspire a culture of giving capable of creating long-term community support systems.

As part of its inaugural healthcare outreach, the organisation visited LASUTH on June 4, 2026, where it provided financial assistance for discharged patients who had remained hospital-bound because they could not settle their medical bills.

Reflecting on the success of the outreach, Adedeji said the intervention marked the beginning of what the organisation hopes will become a sustained movement of compassion and social impact across Nigeria.

“This is just the beginning. Our goal is to impact lives in a way that inspires beneficiaries to someday extend kindness to others. We believe that when one life is transformed, a chain of positive change begins. Through FIDAP Cares, we are building a system that will continue to deliver hope, healing and progress for generations to come.”

Also speaking, the Director of Medical Social Services at LASUTH, Dr Aderemi Lawal, described the intervention as uncommon and timely, noting that many of the beneficiaries had already been certified fit to return home but were held back by financial constraints.

“We appreciate and thank FIDAP Cares for this intervention. They came in and paid the bills of discharged patients, allowing them to return home and reunite with their families. This is an unusual gesture and it came at a very critical time. Several millions of naira were paid on behalf of these patients.

“Some had remained in the hospital for days and even weeks after discharge because they could not settle their bills. This intervention has been truly impactful, and we are deeply grateful.”

Earlier during the visit, Director of FIDAP Cares, Mr Ekinadese Osayande, said the organisation was committed to supporting vulnerable individuals facing critical healthcare challenges.

He noted that LASUTH was selected as one of the organisation’s first beneficiaries because of its reputation as one of Nigeria’s leading tertiary healthcare institutions.

According to him, the organisation’s intervention would extend beyond settling outstanding medical bills to supporting patients whose surgeries and treatments have been delayed due to lack of funds.

“Our support programme goes beyond paying hospital bills,” Osayande. We also intend to assist patients with urgent surgeries delayed by financial constraints while exploring broader opportunities to support both patients and healthcare workers through strategic partnerships.”

Commending the initiative, the Chief Medical Director of LASUTH, Prof. Adetokunbo Fabamwo, described the intervention as a remarkable demonstration of compassion and humanitarian service.

“We are grateful for this demonstration of compassion and support for indigent patients.
“We appreciate the efforts of FIDAP Cares and pray for continued success and greater impact in the years ahead.”

Fabamwo also announced that LASUTH would honour the organisation by including FIDAP Cares on the hospital’s Board of Honor Roll in recognition of its contribution to patient welfare.

Present during the visit were senior members of LASUTH management including Dr Olayinka Olawoye, Deputy Chairman Medical Advisory Committee II, Clinical Services; Dr Adeola Ajibare, Deputy Chairman Medical Advisory Committee, Administration; Dr Aderemi Nojeem Lawal, Head of the Medical Social Welfare Unit; and members of the FIDAP Cares team.