A FAILED SYSTEM

I witnessed one of the most horrific scenes  some weeks ago that made me feel so helpless. I saw a man who had just been electrocuted by a transformer; his skull was practically visible, his skin was peeling, his blood was everywhere on the tarred road, and I could tell he was in so much pain because he kept rolling on the floor as if trying to quench an internal fire. At that moment, I knew he wished he had just died from the electrocution, and I secretly wished the same because it would have saved him from his present agony.

However, what made this scene even more horrifying were the things happening around him. The number of people just standing and watching, including very young children, some laughing; LASTMA officials (traffic wardens) going about their business as if everything was normal; cars driving by, simply avoiding him. There was no sense of urgency to save the victim or attempt to shield the young children from witnessing such horror. People just stood and did nothing. I felt helpless seeing how indifferent everyone seemed, but the truth is, part of me understood it, which made me feel even sadder.

After a while, someone mentioned that they had called the emergency line, but no one had responded, which didn't even surprise me. Do we even have a functional emergency line in Nigeria?? And even if we do, are they equipped to handle emergencies??  I once witnessed a building right across from a fire service station burn , but nothing was done because the fire service had no water. A whole fire service station that was supposed to cater to the presidents residency whenever he was in Lagos had no water.

Nothing about emergency response in Nigeria surprises me again, it only scares me. Nigerians lack a sense of urgency, but it's not entirely their fault. It’s the inadequacies and past failures of our leaders that have led to this. Leaders who, instead of fixing the system, fly abroad for "medical check-ups." However, healthcare practitioners aren’t completely blameless either.  There have been many cases where people rescue accident or gunshot victims, take them to the hospital, only to be turned away or asked for a police report before administering treatment. I thought the top priority of health practitioners was to save lives but in Nigerian hospitals, I’ve seen healthcare workers announce “dead on arrival” with such ease, rather than make any effort to save a life—and I’m not speaking from hearsay, but personal experience. I’ve overheard doctors saying, “Turn her away, she won’t survive.” without fully seeing the patient.

If we were to have a conversation about how many loved ones people have lost due to the negligence of the Nigerian healthcare system, I’m sure it would be a long one. In 2020, I had my own share of this negligence, but that’s a story for another day. Sadly, this is all too common in a country like Nigeria, where even basic services, like a proper ambulance system, are nonexistent.

The Nigerian system has failed us in many ways, but its healthcare performance has been nothing short of a disgrace. I pray that we and our loved ones don't fall victims of the system.

Till next time,

Lots of love,

IMAX💕