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