Paying For The Cost Of Bureaucracy In A Nigerian Hospital
It's been rough these past two weeks and it's been difficult at the same time as well. I've got DMs unchecked and due to this, a lot of people completely ghosted me. People I've constantly curated their posts have buzzed me, wondering why I am no longer doing that these past few days, but the truth is, it's not a question of choice, some commitments take your time, money energy, and the ability to stay creative.
I've frequented the hospital a lot of times this past week, because my brother got hit by a car and suffered a severe double fracture, It's been tough on my end because the hospital is very far from my house, this isn't even the only problem, the traffic on the road is crazy, yesterday alone I spent about 7 hours in traffic, while this is bad for my health situation, sometimes being a firstborn child means you're responsible for the delinquencies of the ones who you're supposed to be older than even if it's at the detriment of your life.
Going to the hospital is something I do not relish and this is due to the fact I abhor the feeling of urgency, hopelessness, brokenness the putridity of knowing that your survival might be reliant on a person with a terrible attitude to work. I've got my health situation but, surprisingly, in 17 years I've never been to the hospital. However, this time, I've just had to, not because of myself but due to another person whose life was on the line.
Imaging of the fracture
This hospital is one of the biggest in Lagos, it's a navy-based hospital owned by the government, and goodness! Do I hate the bureaucracy that comes with being in a Nigerian hospital? We came to this hospital because the previous one was requesting over $2000 for the surgery which my brother needed to correct the fracture he had and this hospital requested about $900 to get the surgery done, but also they'll need pieces of equipment that ran up to $600 in cost, taking the amount to $1500.
Since they're a government-based hospital, they do not charge hospital bills, what they do is ask their patient to pay $15 per day, sometimes they even employ the tactics of admitting people so they could gather that $15 for days, weeks, or however that charade could go. They sold their equipment at a ridiculously high rate, their pharmacy has expensive drugs, and even If they'll not charge you for the in-hospital services like most private hospitals would, they'll make sure they get back this money in other ways, it's coy.
So the surgery was stipulated to be done on Monday, but the doctors seemed to be having a different opinion as to whether to conduct the surgery or not. Due to the severe injuries to the hand, it seemed, that the stiches to the hand hasn't healed or held firmly and it still bled at some certain point.
However, the surgery date seemed to have shifted now, and they'll have to do it in two weeks. The problem is that we were hoping to get the surgery done to prevent tissue issues with the bone and also to start up the rehabilitation and healing process.
They said he was going to get an implant to hold the broken bones in place and maybe after 6 months he'll come for another surgery to get the implant finally removed, this one might cost up to $500 or a little bit more, I cannot tell, but then the aim is to get the hand up and doing again.
It's been crazy, I can feel my anemia showcasing itself, it's been a torrid time and it's been difficult. The bureaucracy and the lack of empathy from most Nigerian medical practitioners can be appalling, but then I could attribute this to the entire country having a broken and nonfunctional system in general.
The person in question (my brother) ran a lucrative business, but he seemed absent-minded. He said he was in debt before the accident and it was difficult for him to raise any amount of money for his medical bills.
A lot of people underestimate the importance of emergency funds, it could save one in grave situations. He'd totally ignored all my advice before now and this is the consequence. It's had a dent on mine because I've virtually emptied my savings. Nevertheless, I hope these moments will pass and he'll live to tell the story
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First born are like semi parents
I understand how it is when there's a lot of Responsibility and no one to help.
Please take time to rest too, so your health won't be affected too, might cause you another money
Just know that God is in charge and everything will be fine.
Yeah emergency funds are important abd look at where it is needed, let him heal completely, am sure he will hear now
Yeaahh, funny enough, it's rampant with the Igbo culture, it's like the responsibilities with the first born Igbo folks makes the direct second child a little bit irresponsible, but then.. it's what it is.
Thanks a million, it's been crazy and I trust in the process, time will eventually tell.
I understand i see my elder sister
So you are from igbo??
Which state exactly?
Is it bad that I feel sorry for your brother but still very much mad at him? Sorry. I wrote about this a few days ago. Everything is a business in Nigeria even the lives of people. You'd think that these ones would be different, being an extension of the law enforcement but whatever is tied or affiliated to this present government is a total sham because they only care for their pockets. I hope your brother gets better. That looks really painful. Yeesh!
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No, I do so too, we've just buried our mother, and I wasn't expecting this to happen. At least not now. We (you and I) sort of share a sentiment towards external families and their irresponsibility towards us and this somehow makes me a bit reserved, careful and strategic.
Anything tied to government in this country is a disgrace. This is one of the moments where you wish you were outside the country, I try to avoid this system. It's like a plague.
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I had to move to Ecency to respond. I can't seem to get a hang of the commenting system of Leofi.
That sentiment has to be shared by all firstborns and only Children i know. Well, at least to my knowledge. Thank you for your vote. I really appreciate it.
It's easy, stick to the web version, plus good internet helps the situation too.
Sorry I haven't dropped a comment, I'll do that soon.
I am so sorry about this.
The problem is the health sector.. The sector is short staffed. The doctors are not being paid and a lot of people are moving.
It's sad that your brother is having this issue right now. I hope he gets power to the hand. Its quite difficult to be honest.
Please do not stress yourself so you don't fall.
God heal you both
This is relatable, but I just feel we can show humanity in some certain situations too. I avoid hospitals like a plague because this has been prevalent since I was in my teenage years. It's crazy though. It's difficult like you've pointed out.
Thanks a million, I appreciate.
Working as a doctor in Nigeria as a whole is a humanitarian act. Do you know doctors slump while working because the job is too much for the few hands. Guess what? The pay is so small and the working environment is toxic.
One of the issue is patients don't think doctors have issues that are even health related.
There was a time I was at work for 40 hours straight.
Anyways I hope the country gets better
While you're totally correct, we can agree that working as a doctor in Nigeria is messed up venture. My aunt was a doctor before retiring and I knew how it was for her. It's just that there are some medical practioners that have unfairly commercialized health care to the highest level and this isn't supposed to be so. The general hospital in LUTH is full of their fakery and corruption.
Hopefully the country can be better in general, I guess the pew and the pulpit have their issues.
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While you're totally correct, we can agree that working as a doctor in Nigeria is messed up venture. My aunt was a doctor before retiring and I knew how it was for her. It's just that there are some medical practioners that have unfairly commercialized health care to the highest level and this isn't supposed to be so. The general hospital in LUTH is full of their fakery and corruption.
Hmmmm.. I cant agree less
Honestly, having an emergency fund is very essential. I feel very at ease in cases of emergency like this knowing that I'll always have something to cough up when it gets very difficult. Definitely, one may need to rely on others, but it feels better to be able to contribute something.
Your brother will be fine. I'm sure the best care will be rendered. For the meantime, please, don't forget your health. You can't lose it now after 17 years of maintaining it. Take good care of yourself too.
I've preached it all my life, my blog alone is a testament of it, situations just come.... Unforseen circumstances and fuck everything.
Well, some things happens and spoils everything, I've lived minimally in everything, but we cannot control how the actions of others affect our wellbeing.
Thanks for your kind words
Being a first born is more like being a parent in Nigeria. Nigeria government hospitals are the worst. I usually think that since it’s managed by the government things should be less expensive but it’s the opposite, also most of their staffs are so nonchalant. Having emergency savings is one necessity I think every individual should have. So sorry bout your brothers health. Hopefully he’d get better soon❤️
Hahaha it's managed by the government quite alright, but you know, there are parastatals and there are issues with corruption as well. So we have more lackadaisical attitudes from these people. So things might be cheap, but these guys have ways of still extorting people you know.
Very true.
I'm sorry for your brother's situation. I also think that sometimes, many people cannot even meet a square of their daily needs, let alone saving up emergency funds from a meager income.
Another factor is some people's disbelief that there would ever be any cause for emergency alarm in their lives, so they just spend everything they have and believe that if at all emergency comes, the money for the emergency will come under a miracle. I have a lot of people that go about with this idea.
And in the area of debts, not just only your brother is a victim, so many people are. sometimes people run into debts due to lack of contentment or unnecessary wants and then expecting to fix their debts, but realizing the next income is not even enough and they run into more debts in a bid to tag along with the society.
As for our Nigerian system, it's really breaking down and nobody is helping matters not even the people who were called to be life savers.
Take heart, just do your little best for your brother, but don't get yourself worked up. You have your own life to live too. It is well.
We can be overly positive and hopeful but a general sense of optimism towards life can cost us so much. I know of people too who did not deem it necessary to have emergency funds. The reality of the situation is that it comes from an in-depth awareness of personal finance education.
I think one thing is that people are too overzealous and they allow religion blind their consciousness of what reality is about.
Bad things and good things are part of life, it's normal, it's not charm, neither is it village people.
Thanks a million, for your concern, I'm grateful. How have you been?
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it's ma pleasure😊. Thanks too for sharing your position with us.
I have been trying to be fine though. Speaking about hospitals, my mum has been seriously ill and was admitted in the hospital so, we were busy running around for her, but I thank God she's getting better, every expenses also fell back on emergency funds🤷
Well well, seems like most people are having hospital issues, how's she's doing now? Better?
Yeah Better. Thank you
I wish your brother speedy recovery
And Kpele for all the stress you have to go through
You are a good elder brother and your labor of love and sacrifice will not go unrewarded
Hahaha, sometimes I wonder if being a good person pays, it might not, be then, we're humans and we just have to be humane whether it pays or not.
Exactly
It's crazy that medical bills cost that much in Nigeria. And that too with so much corruption.
You are already sad and under stress, because someone from your family is hurt. Then these people try to take every bit of money from you.
It shows how corrupt the world is, especially for people who struggle financially.
I can't imagine what will happen to someone who cannot come up with an immediate $1500 fund.
Whenever I faced such a situation, I would get angry and think about why such things happened to me.
When you spend your days planning how to improve your life and make things better, one thing ruins all your plans, making you angry and sometimes sad.
But, over time, I have learnt to tell myself— This too shall pass.
There won't be any benefit in getting mad or angry.
All the hard phases of life build your character. Stay strong brother!
Geeze!...this really is a difficult situation because honestly that's a whole lot of money. As it seems, our country is just always finding ways to force hardship on us but I really admire the fact that you're taking responsibility for this, I mean he is your brother after all. I just really hope he gets well soon and I pray God continues to grant you the strength you need.
Yeah, well, there are responsibilities we don't choose, they just happen and we have to embrace them willingly or unwillingly. I guess difficult situations are meant to happen in life.
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Our health sector is such a disgrace. It's even more fearful when the Doctors don't value patients' life as they should, maybe I've watched too many movies but both my dad & mom were admitted to a trauma center back in 2020 and the only thing they know how to do is extort every bit of money they can get while not providing necessary service. I can't help but wish I will never lay on a hospital bed until I catch my last breath.
I pray the surgery goes smoothly.
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Well your wish is as mine as well and this is because, we'd rather not have issues that put us in this medical emergencies. God will continue protecting.
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Well your wish is as mine as well and this is because, we'd rather not have issues that put us in this medical emergencies. God will continue protecting.
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Hmmm....
It is well bro..I feel your pain, especially knowing that you buried your mum not long ago.
I hope your brother gets well soon!
Just have it in mind that everything will be alright with time👌
Well, it can be overwhelming sometimes, another time, life can turn out well and too good to be true. I guess we live for the good and bad times. Thanks for your kind words