Parents of quintuplets facing financial trouble in Dubai

Dubai: Over two weeks after Ranim Amir Barmada gave birth to quintuplets at the Saudi-German Hospital in Dubai, the mother and her husband Hasan Munzer Barmada are still facing serious financial troubles.

Losing the smallest of their babies just days after their delivery, the Syrian couple confirmed that their four babies are recovering steadily.

“I’m suffocating under the pile of bills,” said Barmada who explained that apart from a few small donations, his family has not little financial help. “I’m worried about what actions will be taken against me if i am unable to pay my hospital bills which are piling up every day,” added the worried father.

Only able to pay the cost of the Caesarean section surgery, Barmada said he is in a very difficult financial situation.

“The cost of keeping all four babies in the hospital is now Dh30,000 per day,” he said adding that the amount includes the cost of incubators, the intravenous nutrition, and medical care after receiving a 50 per cent discount by the hospital.

“I’ve taken care of the surgery’s bill, but I don’t know how to pay for the costs per day for the next few weeks as I have no other means of income,” he added.

With a month and half to go until the babies are taken home, Barmada is clueless about how he will pay growing hospital bill.

“I haven’t paid any of the daily costs for the babies since their first day at the hospital,” he added.

A spokesman for the Saudi-German Hospital commented on the case saying that the hospital has provided its full support to the Baramada family and will continue to do so until the babies are fully recovered.

“We are the only private hospital who accepted his case, because we trust that there are many people in this country who want to do good — like we have supported this family, the people will also support them,” said the spokesperson.

The hospital also added that while it has offered the Bermada family over 50 per cent off on the bills, they trust that the family will be given financial support by the community, charities, and the government.

Desperate for aid and living in hope, the Barmada family is still waiting for the UAE’s government’s financial support.

Still mourning the loss of one of his babies, Barmada told Gulf News that while the smallest of his quintuplets Aya weighed 500g, she fought for her live but lost the battle as she faced multiple medical complications.

“She was very small, and couldn’t survive,” he said.

Aya, the third eldest of the quintuplets was facing complications long before she was delivered. “We were always worried about Aya because she had a low heart beat and she wasn’t getting the nutrition she needed,” said mother Ranim who talked about her difficult pregnancy.

After their recent loss, the couple is focusing on looking forward to the recovery of their four babies, Amjad, Agyad, Akram and Alma.

“All the other babies are in a stable condition, with the grace of Allah” said Barmada.