The Congo businesswoman freeing new mothers from debt
STORY: It was three weeks since Annaelle gave birth to twins in Democratic Republic of Congo's capital Kinshasa.
But the 16-year-old still hadn't left hospital.
Unable to pay her medical costs, she was effectively being held hostage.
Then entered a woman Annaelle had never met before - to hand doctors $130 and settle the bill.
This is Grace Mbongi Umek - a businesswoman who has made it her mission to free new mothers trapped by their maternity debts.
"As far as my objective is concerned, it's clear: I want this to stop. I want women in my country to give birth in good conditions and not be held hostage because they cannot pay."
Like many countries in sub-Saharan Africa, Democratic Republic of Congo has no universal health coverage.
While President Felix Tshisekedi's government is ratifying a law to make health services free for the vulnerable, the minimum $40 required to give birth in a health facility is out of reach for many.
According to the World Bank, more than 60% of Congo's population lives on less than $2.15 a day.
Cash-strapped hospitals say they are forced to keep patients until they've paid in full.
"So I said to myself, why not help these women have their fundamental rights, the right of a woman not to be detained in a maternity hospital just because she's given birth?"
Umek, who owns shares in several security companies, set up a foundation in 2017 to help mothers with unpaid medical bills.
She says she donates up to $3,500 a month.
At Kinshasa's Bethesda hospital, Annaelle and two of her roommates uttered their thanks and wrapped up their babies.
Unburdened by debt, they can finally take their children home.
相關影片推薦
- 1:18美馬戲團大象逃脫 穿梭車陣民眾驚呼 馬路秒變野生動物園Yahoo奇摩(國際通)31,955 次觀看・1 天前
- 6:11強震來臨這3個縣市最危險 李鴻源曝災防都更因「票房毒藥」難行今天誰來沛251,440 次觀看・1 天前
- 1:53加拿大史上最大黃金盜竊案逮6人 加航「內鬼」偽造空運單 400公斤黃金恐已熔化售出Yahoo奇摩(國際通)37,411 次觀看・1 天前
- 1:13柯建銘質詢一半突喊「我看不到」計時器 透露眼睛病變華視影音8,107 次觀看・1 天前
- 2:02英國女遊台南「喝全糖珍奶」 嚇壞驚呼:天大錯誤華視影音314,490 次觀看・2 天前
- 1:1126歲抗癌網紅因胃癌去世 生命最後5個月沒吃沒喝娛樂星聞59,710 次觀看・2 天前
- 1:15謝和弦不認偷吃陳芳語嗆前妻記錯人!自爆出軌對象是「她」秒遭Keanna打臉娛樂星聞15,057 次觀看・21 小時前
- 23:55台積電法說會登場 投資人關心加碼美國新廠風險 但面對拜登和川普搶當美國保護主義隊長 川普幕僚密謀促貶美元 拜登祭301調查要提高中國商品關稅 台積電等於買了保險|鏡轉全球 #鏡鏡新聞1,133 次觀看・23 小時前
- 1:17情侶吵架「氣到跳車」 女友摔翻滾5圈慘死|#鏡新聞鏡新聞2,461 次觀看・2 天前
- 1:41土耳其「身障狗狗列車」出動 天天載毛孩外出兜風、感受世界風光Yahoo奇摩(國際通)62,916 次觀看・1 天前