What is more important LIFE? or MONEY?

This might sound absurd but in reality, we need to answer this question. You need to be alive to make money.

I believe this principle should also apply when it comes to saving a life, especially in an emergency situation.

Have you ever wondered why HELPING  is difficult? I have come to realize that the reason why many people will choose not help at first instance is probably that of the challenges that come with helping someone.

Sometime in 2015, I and my friend witnessed an accident where we tried to save a year-old baby boy that was involved in an auto crash at the famous 40-40 roundabout in Owerri, Imo state, Nigeria. 

Immediately, we heard “boom” the next thing we saw, was spectators that could not allow one to see the scene of the accident without even doing anything. My friend, a medical doctor immediately wangled her way into the scene of the accident to rescue a little baby that was half naked and was unconscious. She picked up the baby in the midst of broken beer bottles that have been smashed with blood stains and bruises all over his body. It was gathered that the lady who had a fractured leg at the scene was going to buy drinks with empty grates and decided to took her neighbor's son along as the boy was fond of her and could not let her go. 

When my friend picked up the poor boy, she jumped inside a tricycle “Keke” that was packed close to the scene.

Surprisingly, the owner of the tricycle came and shouted that she should get down with the baby. Confused, my friend ran to me and was humming “we must save this boy”. “Please bring your car” Unprepared, we quickly rushed to Imo state Specialist hospital Umuguma.  It was on a Saturday morning at about 9am, on getting to the hospital behold there was no single doctor to attend to us. We then again moved straight to Federal Medical Center, Owerri (FMCO). Before getting to FMCO, we got information that they were on strike. We finally landed at Umezurike Hospital- a private medical vendor.  

Unfortunately, we were asked to make some deposit before the boy could be attended to. Though unprepared we accepted to comply, that was how the boy was accepted for treatment.

To cut the long story short- I followed up with the mother who confirmed that the boy was getting better although he was later referred to the teaching hospital after transfusion and other treatment to stabilize him. She also reported that he had a fracture in one of his legs but the good news is that he eventually survived and is alive.

Have you thought about the reason why the Keke owner refused to carry the boy to the hospital?

The commercial driver who also volunteered to carry the lady with a fractured leg, also exploded in anger that they should settle him to go because the series of the event almost took the whole day causing him to lose money.

Now back to the story of Miss Linda Angela Igwetu the corp member that was shot on Wednesday 5th July 2018, a night before her passing out. We were told she was rushed to Garki Hospital Abuja but the disturbing report we heard was that the hospital delayed a bleeding patient for 1hr 30minutes just because they insisted on taking a deposit. The Police DPO actually had to send for cash for treatment which commenced an hour 30minutes later. Sadly, we lost her.

We must begin to build a culture of professionalism and evaluation system that ensures that utmost priority is given to LIFE.  

Think patient’s safety first.