Almost every Nigerian knows or is related to someone who died before their time because of something that was not diagnosed on time or just a total lack of any decent health care. Even the Doctors feel like some sort of 'deity' deciding hose life to save and anyone they think cannot afford the care simply get left to die. This week alone, Elder Steve Rhodes, Sonny Okosuns and Sammy Needle are just a few names on the list of those who didn't leave us without struggling with one illness or the other...
To even imagine that Sammy Needle died of Typhoid fever? In 2008?
In Nigeria being sick it is almost a sure death sentence but for God's grace! Even the fairly comfortable use up all their resources in the hope of winning the battle for good health... few in fact win. Let's change the stats... that is what we need to work on!
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He died of Typhoid fever? Surely that can't be true!
ReplyDeleteMy mum works in the health care system in Naija and in over 30 years , na the same problem: The biggest mistake in typhoid related deaths is that most people often "assume" that they have malaria as the symptoms are almost the same...most times people are not willing to do the blood tests as this often involves more money, etc. However, this happens in a lot of poor areas where they visit "chemist"....
I really hope this is not true, cos a simple blood test...a minute's procudeure would have given a diagnosis.
Na wah oh!
I am really hoping this is not true but you and I and anybody who has ever lived in our dear country knows that the most basic of health care is not readily available and self medication and treatment is the order of the day. Even that 'simple' blood test you mentioned might not be as simple as that. If you go private, you have to register and pay-as-you-go. if you go public... well join the queue and hope for the best... or maybe you know someone who knows someone....
ReplyDeleteCan't we just say enough is enough to this government of ours??
It is so bad that countries like South Africa are bidding hard to get a share of the 1billion dollars per annum Nigerians spend on health care abroad...
Money we can easily spend to better our health care.
It must get better oh!
85% of typhoid cases are been treated as malaria. what ever that involves fever here is classified as malaria, most doctors just ask for symptoms without a proper test...money is not always the case for the negligence of taking blood test its the fear of hiv/aids, when they their is been taken and might come back with morethan they budgeted for to hear
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