Corona Virus Muse and Harsh Nigerian Health Care Realities

I am laughing at people who point at Buhari going overseas instead of fixing Aso Clinic, or flying Kyari to Lagos apparently because of it. 

Others are amused that he is quarantined in the villa after suspicions that he may be corona positive. Still others blame him for not ordering border closures, not to be outdone others tie his delay in closing the airports because his daughter was enroute.

Only a callous man will not try to have a daughter return safely and even besides that suspicion only a mad man will order the closure of all air traffic and complete border closure , the lifeline of the nation, without some hesitation, it’s not just health but Naira and dollars evaporating into thin air, Nigeria will pay the price for these actions even as all Nigerians, although still alive, will have morphed into looking like kwashiorkor victims as a result. 

Only a mad man will stay in Nigeria to experience the third world socialist medicine available, it’s a waste of time. 

In regards to our collapsed heath care system, it is doubtful Nigerians comprehend the enormity of the challenges of providing health care in Nigeria and even a billion naira will not be able to entice the world class geriatric specialists baba consults and needs to see to stay alive to stay and endure Nigeria’s third world disfunction and you kidnapping and harassing them.

At one time a certain region and state endured a kidnapping onslaught against doctors and medical practitioners, many where killed, so who is fooling who?

Believe me if Baba had stayed in Nigeria as a guinea pig he would be dead, just like a relative of mine would be dead if they had remained in Nigeria for treatment. 

I am not interested in rehashing popular fables by the proletariat about the ease of providing miracle health care for all Nigerians, and how cheap drugs and  diagnostic equipment will magically appear or can be purchased, it’s a socialist fallacy, do you even have the money to pay or do you want care on credit. 

Don’t even start by crying that if only Atiku had won, hospitals will be world class and medicine will appear, the man’s family does not even hold weddings in Nigeria and why are you struggling to pay schools fees in your state school instead of attending his American University, is the difference not clear. 

To those amused because politicians can no longer go overseas and will be forced to use that neglected general hospital, let me tell you when you both arrive for treatment you will experience the worst fencing known to man as they will be escorted ahead of the crowd to the doctor who will magically appear from his private hospital to receive obsequious care, from suddenly revived machines, that will break down immediately the leave.

Who told you they will even go to that general hospital, when they can go to the many private hospitals run by Nigerians, that even you and other Nigerians will not patronize because they are not white or Indian doctors, and because they demand excessive cash up front.

You will never see these politicians as they will be secluded in a private ward away from you, they are still not on your level, so also is the typical Igbo merchandise business man with abundant cash getting treatment while you hustle for admission fee, so keep waiting for them at your general hospital, you go tire. 

Incidentally those private doctors will refer them to hospitals in Germany and London and India for the poorest ones, after the quarantine is over, expect half of entire ruling class to exercise their right to use their rights to run overseas with referrals for treatment. 

Don’t come and be beating your chest all righteous at me, when you yourself as poor as you are patronize a private hospital instead of dying at a general hospital even when they have paracetamol,  they same people that will not drive innosson jeeps in favor of their escalades. 

The rich will always have access to better health care and even from the long traditional past medicine men where either imported or you travelled to them for healing.

Everyone find your level, if you cannot afford a hospital, go to a herbalists, if you find no herbalist, try out native remedies and native medical doctors or consult your pharmacists for any remedies, if you have access to none, pray hard it works too, sometimes it works better if you pray to your local diety in Okija shrine, you might find deliverance there faster than at these money gobbling Pentecostal churches.

Please be on the lookout for our millionaire pastors at your neighborhood hospital, a reward to any who sees them there. 

It’s a rat race and the goal is to stay alive no matter the cost and using whatever hook or crook to stay alive.

Wash your hands with soap or salt or sand or use that star or whisky to wash your face and as much as you can till this wave passes stay indoors. 

Most importantly speak no evil, wish no evil or delight in any predicament of the rich or the poor.

Hustle hard.

By Terhemba Osuji