Clinic vs Garage

I'm from a country that has a lot of alternatives to maintain vehicles. There are all sorts of suppliers, self made mechanics and garages who can successfully enable a baby Fiat for an on road driving. It's very common to see a 1970s car wondering in the streets of Addis. If  all goes bad, it will be towed to suburban area or  rural area. It's as if as long as they are away from the light, we can bear them.

Unfortunately we the people don't worth that much. Keeping a healthy lifestyle is not a luxury. It's a necessity for if you get sick-god forbid, you may not recover. A car has a better survival rate than the people because of the alternatives available. I haven't done the exact figure nor do I want to do so 'cause I'm busy counting the dead all for the wrong reasons.

Our self taught mechanics are so good that they can diagnose a car over the phone. The irony is our DOCTORs couldn't make a proper diagnosis even after telling them your symptoms in person. That is why the majority of the population still trust the traditional medical practices than the modem med schooled physicians.

  

Why would one gamble with life when there is a modem scientifically proven medicine,  you may ask. Well when it costs too much and for no apparent results, associated acquired illness from wrong diagnosis, vulnerability to overdose, pompous and often humiliating patient handling of the modem Doctors made the whole modem stuff in jeopardy.

It's sad to be known as the hospital with a very high price tag yet a very high contributor to Minilik Hospital autopsy department-the only facility for the entire country with 85 million people. Most big companies have a health insurance for their employees.  One  friend of mine was the few lucky ones to enjoy such a privilege. However, when he was sick and was admitted to one of the very best private hospital, we were not at ease. The hospital is well known for the worst-walk in alive, ...! Fortunately he made it out alive - yeah the situation is that dire - after few days of hospitalization.

Last year we heard the sudden death of the iconic music legend of the country only because of lack of ambulance and proper paramedics. This weekend a young legend in the making passed away in a hospital in Kenya all because DOCTORs in Addis couldn't diagnose him although he went for a check up weeks before the strock, there was no proper ambulance and paramedic after he collapsed and hence $25000 was paid for an medical team and ambulance airplane so that the treatment could begin at Bole airport. They did their best but could not save him.

How many more souls should we loose to wake up from our deep comas? How many last minute calls should we make for donation? Isn't it high time to use our expertise and hard earned cash for the betterment of the health care system? Isn't high time to think 'neg bene'?

By: Jemal M. Hussien

Glimpse of life #3

While I am waiting!

I live in a country where patience is most required but I don't have patience. Everyday I have to go out to be in line to get a taxi. I go to hospital to get medical treatment, I am told to wait. I know the doctor is in his office, I know there is no patient with him but I have to wait till my name is called out. When I go to get my hair done, they give me a card with number written on it that shows how many people are before me, I wait! When I get tired from all the waiting I just want to go home and lie down, but I got to wait for the taxi again. If it is working hour I have to be in line to get into a taxi, if it is not I get into the taxi and wait till it loads more people.

Actually I have learned to avoid all this waiting, I take any option that doesn't require waiting, but sometimes I can't avoid it. I am now in a hospital waiting to get medical treatment. Why why why am I here?  I am not even that sick :( Oops there was a patient in the doctors room, and he looks extremely sick. Now the doctor is going to be mad at me that I am not that sick. Honestly  I am feeling so much better, if it wasn't for the fact that I waited so long I would have just gotten the hell out of here, I hate hospitals! 

I got to have some fun, let me tell you about the guy sitting next to me. Since the time I sat here, he has been cleaning his blue Samsung phone with napkins. This is what attracted my attention to him. And guess what his name is written on a piece of paper and plastered at the back if his phone. In case somebody calls and asks who he is and if he forgets, he can refer to the back of his phone ;) kidding! I have no idea why he has his name written on the back of his phone. May be it is not his name, may be.....believe me I am in a general hospital, not mental or anything related :)

What he wears seems to be some sort of a uniform, if not.., he had blue pants with red line on each side, a really yellow t-shirt, a really red shirt with sparkly stripes on and a brown jacket and a yellow cap with blue heart design on the front. Oh by the way, he stopped cleaning his phone and he is now fighting with his eyes that wants to fall asleep. He must be tired from all the waiting. I seriously am tired off all the waiting too.

The young girl sitting in front of me seems interested on what I am typing on my phone. She just keeps stretching to see what I am typing :) Oh! is there a specific code to clothing for patients coming to this hospital..' You should wear all the colorful clothes you have!' I am just saying cause the girl is also wearing a pink sweater, really pink, and a yellow hat, yes yellow! OMG she is also wearing a blue skirt :) 

I came here with a friend so that she accompany me while I am waiting, but some guy said I am supposed to sit on another chair close to the doctors room and she had to wait for me else where. I would have not felt the whole waiting if she is with me, but now.... she is also made to wait for me... I wander what goes in her mind but I bet she is not at all interested in the people sitting next to her. I am really tired of all the waiting! 

Yeah!! my friend came to sit with me, after all who cares about that young guy's rules in a country where everyone could make rules :) well then I am off to chat with my friend!

Oh I got to tell you this, don't you agree that we live in a crazy world? There was some hustle in the hospital, finally I learned that a mother run out leaving her one month old baby. Then I asked the pharmacist lady what really happened. She said the mother run out because her husband's family gave her a really hard time. Somehow they found the mother and I also saw the husband's family at the compound. The pharmacist said 'they are here to beat her, can you imagine what they do to her at home!' She really sounded angry. Then she turned to the the other male pharmacist and keeps asking him all this questions; 'who can better take care of my baby, me or my husband's family? Who can really take care of your baby? Your wife or your family? She kept asking the same question in different forms. He kept answering the same answer, 'my family! Husband's family!' I really thought he was joking so I smiled, but he gave me the hardest  look! Wey Gud!!

Who is in control?

'The lot is cast into the lap, but it's every decision is from the Lord.' Prov 16:37 is one of my favorite verse since I started reading the Bible almost a decade back to this day. Since I am not good at decision making,  I often used to cast lots to help me make up my mind, yes even decisions like which job opportunity to take, which.....fill the gap, almost anything; I know it is a crazy thing to do! But...

Going back to this verse, in modern language, John Piper refers to it as 'The dice rolled on the table, and every play is decided by God.' I sometimes play poker with colleagues, and it is interesting for me think those chips are in God's control, let alone every role of dice in Las Vegas. God is all knowing, omnipotent and even if it is not his will, even if it is not from him, there is nothing that does not rule for his purpose. 

'Are not 2 sparrows sold for a penny? Jesus said, 'And not one of them will fall to the ground apart from your fathers. But even the hairs of your head are all numbered.' Matt 10:29-30

While reading this, please do me a favor and run your fingers through your hair, can you imagine, God knows you that detailed!! If you are bold, my Pastor used to say, 'God knows your hair count too..zero is a number.' 

Can you look out the window, and if you are outdoor just look up; Can you imagine, God knows every time a bird crashes to your window and falls dead or falls dead in thousand forests. 

In the book of Jonah, God commands a fish to swallow and later to spit out Jonah; He commands a plant to grow 4:6 and he commands a worm to kill it 4:7

The 1 sextillion ( 21 zeros) stars in the universe take their place at God's command and he calls each by name. Issiah 40:26 

Anything, absolutely anything that happens in this world, including whatsoever is occupying your mind right now, is under God's good purpose and control. It is hard to believe but I know it is true not because it is logical at all but because I have seen it in my life. 

God is detailed into whatever is happening in the world or in your life, though it often doesn't make sense he cares and he is always in control!!

Love

Photo by; Genaye Eshetu

He is patient with me

though I fail him often 

He is kind to me

though I don't deserve it

He is not jealous

instead he is jealous for me

He is not boastful

though he has it all

He is not rude

though he has all the right to be

He does not demand his own way

instead he lets me have my way

though his gentle guidance 

his quite council is always with me

He is not irritable

though I act the most irritating

He keeps no record of being wronged

though I wronged him too often

He does not rejoice about injustice

for he is just

He rejoices when truth wins out

for he himself is the truth

He never gives up on me

even when I give up on myself

He never loses faith

even when I betray him

He is always hopeful

that I will turn back to him

even when I ran far away 

When people & things change

when all pass away

He will last forever

He endures through every circumstance

He never fails

He is love

He is God!

1Cor 13