BAFROW Medical Centre has been accused of cashing in on expectant mothers with charges of over D50, 000 for labour and delivery service.

A young mother, Hadija Jallow, told What’s On-Gambia the famous medical centre is taking advantage of pregnant women.

“I was at the Serre Kunda Market and all of a sudden I felt a strange pain in my stomach. I quickly checked into BAFROW because it was the closest health centre. They said I was in labour and I was admitted for D5000. I spent the night in their clinic and the next day they recommended a C-section and for that they requested D25, 000,” she said.

Hadija continued: “After delivery, they said my baby needed urgent medical care. I was charged D5000 for a 24-hour life support care. But later, this amount was increased for reasons that I still don’t know.  I tried to complain but they refused to listen.

“I later got into a scuffle with them and the police was called.  My question is why would they request for more than D50, 000 for a C-section?”

Recalling her horrible ordeal, Hadija said her older child was not allowed to enter the ward, where she was admitted.

BAFROW Medical Centre is a non-profit, self-sustained clinical institution that supports national response in reducing mortality and morbidity.  They claim to be one of the largest private non-profit medical establishments in The Gambia.