Chinese hospital withholds Liberian mother’s newborns

The reporter who revealed the story of a Liberian mother who was forced to crowdfund in order to get her newborn twins back from a Chinese hospital told BBC’s Newsday.

Sui-Lee Wee, a journalist for the New York Times, revealed the case of Juliana Brandy Logbo in a report two days ago. Ms Logbo, she wrote, was forced to undergo an emergency cesarean section at a hospital in Guangzhou after being rushed in by ambulance on 5 May.

But when she was unable to pay the $630 (£470), they said she was not allowed to see her babies. “I gave birth to my babies, and I can’t even see my babies,” she told Ms Wee. “Which type of country am I in?”

Ms Logbo, whose visa has run out and does not speak Chinese, turned to friends to raise the money. By the time she had the funds, three days later, the bill had jumped to $800 (£600).

It was only after they dropped the bill – on 10 May – that Ms Logbo was finally allowed to hold her babies for the first time. By the time she left the hospital with the twins – named Grace Annabelle and Gracious Anna – she had paid $3,500 (£2,620). The hospital, meanwhile, has denied it withheld the children from Ms Logbo, saying it was merely reminding her of the bill.-BBC