When lights fail
Dying patients and a dying system
Today, a man died right in front of me, Titi. I didn't want to blame the slippery road or the reckless okada man or the unobservant trailer driver or the missing side mirror of the trailer or the crippled healthcare system or the negligent road workers or callous supervisors or sigh………..any other cause. I just froze in my green Almera car when I saw the man gasping for breath. When you reached for my hand, they were as cold as mine and a shiver ran down my spine. It brought memories. One I do not wish to dive into now.
I could swear that a tear or two would have fallen but I bi man I suppose rough am. Unfortunately, I do not think that one should “rough” a brutal situation as this- a wicked push from life to death. But you'd have definitely cried. You would have covered your eyes so you won't remember the lifeless man's body crushed by the tyre of the big trailer carrying coal tar in your dreams. Somehow, I'm glad you can't do that now because I'd hate to see you in discomfort considering how much I love you. Titi, I hate to bring this in this moment but I remember the day you said “yes” to me. I danced like a mad man and for some reason you joined me in my weird moves. The way you easily mimicked my mood was beautiful and I was so sure you were my better half.
I know how the rest of the journey home would have been. You'd have burst open in your political jargons in describing the injustice you had just witnessed and I'd be there not understanding the bulk of it yet simply nodding. Or maybe I might have a clue of what you'd say. You'd have started with the failing healthcare system. I know you na. You would have dissected it. A single problem that spirals into a vicious cycle- that kind of problem. You'd have addressed the low funding from the government hence the recurring strikes. You'd have talked about how the strikes lead to brain drain. Brain drain that leave remnants of unskilled medical practitioners who get frustrated with the system day by day. You'd also address the low quality of drugs that are supposed to treat patients, not make them worse. You'd talk about the insufficient equipment due to the low funding. You’d point out the unequal access to quality treatment and the inability of NHIS to help the situation. You'd even give me a source to help my fact checking.
I could feel you smiling beside me. My beautiful smart passenger princess.
Leaving dying patients in the hands of a dying system- Ugochukwu Chineke (Speaker of “This is Nigeria Superbowl”, 2024)
It all brought memories. One I should dive into now. Titi, do you remember? It was a one way okada driver. He ran into you and you fell on the floor head hitting the ground first. You had a brain surgery that same night in a government hospital.You were in the ICU surviving on the oxygen I bought with LAPO money. Then it happened. NEPA took the light, the inverters were down,the ventilators stopped working and you slipped away. Usually, at home, when the darkness came, the inverter or Honda GX generator would take over but it was the first time that darkness really won the battle with me.
Titilayo Sumboyo Olaitan, just like that okada man, the system has failed you. It's why I'm on my way to my political godfather's house in preparation for the upcoming elections to recreate the system.
I miss you dearly but you know what they say, “life is short” so hang in there I will join you soon. Titi, A man died right in front of me today just like you did last month.