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There was this day I was interested in finding out the origin
of EA Sports. The makers of games my younger brother adores so much that he
would rather play games than take his studies seriously as a forth former. He
does not have his own PC, but as a matter of priority, he has installed FIFA
and a bunch of other EA Sports games on any PC he has settled on. As such, he
rarely studies, which am sure is a talent (studying) on its own because he has
been polar to perusal from time immemorial. And do you know something, I have
never bothered to coerce him to do it because it’s not his thing.
As someone who is now independent, I have no impetus as to
what he does with his life. Talking to him is like ‘kupigia mbuzi guitar’.
But like yours truly, I hated reading while at home (school work). However,
when it came to novels and newspapers. Trust you me, I would read like a
carousel becoming a recluse henceforth. Rarely do I catch up with pals because
I find it as an intrusion (Whatsapp serves that purpose). Because I love my
space. Sitting sometimes long hours behind the computer building on my wealth
of knowledge when I am motivated though either reading blog posts or sharing on
LinkedIn on important business news and to be specific, increasing my financial
gen now that I know my area of expertise falls under finance and as a student
who wants to share, I am obliged to do so on the professional network site.
Anyway.
Life is not a game to experiment with human beings. In games,
I only love playing Chess because of the words. The makers of the one I am
currently playing are EA Sports. And apparently Trip Hawkins, the founder of Electronic Arts, Inc. once worked at Apple
Computer. I have a fad for anything associated with Apple. As a potential
analyst, the supernormal profits are it made are beyond the scope of my financial
ken in explaining. Still, the adrenaline in yours truly has not tapered off for
loving the hardware and software company. In finance, it can be said to be
having both high and low operating leverage. High on its software and low on
its highly marketable gadgets.
When you are accustomed to seeing
things run smoothly without rigmaroles, you need to exercise patience when they
take an about turn. There are times when you hear stories that sound fictitious
and there are times when you experience the stories. On this occasion, I was on
the receiving end. Luckily, I was not alone. Together with my uncles Fred,
Isaac, Jack and Lameck, my sister Mercy and Cousins Ken and George and aunt Jacinta,
not forgetting my grandpa, one Stanislaus we took my uncle Barrack to Kenyatta Hospital
for admission.
Hitherto, we had thought it would
probably last only a few hours before the process would result in admission.
Like one person had suggested during a meeting on the ease of getting admission
to Kenyatta which was speculated as lengthy but corroborative evidence from the
person rebuffed off the speculated claims. Uncle Barry was physically weak and
emaciated, medical reports I was not prior to but having heard from reliable sources
indicated he was in need of specialized attention which could only be procured
in a Referral Hospital with specialist doctors who could handle his condition
which was deteriorating as he could not munch. And the most convenient and
affordable Hospital in this case which was apt in terms of facilities was none
other than Kenyatta National Hospital. Having been in a private hospital
initially, and the fact that the bills were accruing while his condition was
not improving, it was prudent to take him to a hospital where he could be given
specialized treatment and the problem in his stomach which was in the wee
stages addressed.
Settling on KNH was a family
decision as the odds had been looked at and given that there were financial obligations
that needed to be taken care of, a mini harambee
was done and alas, everything was ready. It was decided that a Red
Cross ambulance would be used to facilitate quicker admission into the facility
and because using an ambulance is the most convenient way of transferring a patient
to a hospital. There paramedics are medically equipped to handle most of the
emergencies and situations cannot get out of hand.
One major plus with the Red Cross
ambulance as opposed to the other ambulances is that the facilities inside it
make it look like a mini hospital. The ambulance carries fully advanced life
support equipment, emergency drugs, and ambulance crews are highly experienced
qualified staff other than it taking one to hospital without delay. If you look
inside other ambulances, you would be apathetic as to why spend so much when
the much you get is only the transport bit. They look ill equipped which is a
feature in most of the ambulances from below par hospitals which can also be
hired as hearses and in some instances used to transport charcoal.
I must
admit I have got a past negative
experience at this hospital. The last time I was in KNH, I collapsed due to the stagnant
smell of disinfectants and though I was never admitted, I became wary of the
environment which even though somber, is quite nauseous. Since I was not in the
hospital upon arrival of the ambulance, I only got faint details that the crew
from Red Cross were very helpful but due to restrictions, there was only a
certain extent they could help.
The emergency and accident wing in KNH was under construction.
Funded by Old mutual which has acquired a majority stake in UAP and another substantial
amount of equity in Faulu (Micro Finance Institution) as the banner on the continuing
project indicated. This is an indication
of the corporate social responsibility the firm was engaging in. Perhaps that
spurred the desire in yours truly to apply for consideration in the firm even
though they have that reply that is usually void because it is just that, an
application. The area under construction was cordoned off by some new iron
sheets and that did eat up space reducing the area under which patients and
those who brought them could stay.
I must confess KNH has the worst form of admission of patients. Forget about those PR gimmicks during periods of national disasters when the hospital is under both national and international media coverage and you rarely see patients languishing outside because they have to protect the image. The attitude of some stuff is frigid and this can result a in fraught experience
if you love order or places that are highly organized.
Upon arrival at the Emergency wing, you will be find patients
on gurneys (medical bed with casters wheels) that are motionless. The casualty
section is chilling. There you will see what in the real world is only seen in brief
episodes of medical series. At that point, you need to thank you Maker for
having sane health because the conditions under which some patients were, you
have to have the nerves not to wretch and the willpower to surmount tormenting
situations.
The worst thing is that KNH is insensitive to the plight of
patients not yet admitted. They stay on stretchers for long outside especially
if the person has to undergo a series of medical tests that are paid for but in
reasonable amounts but still can be costly if not well prepared with finances
to necessitate the required processes. What astounded me was that any movement
that took place while in the hospital was the prerogative of those who brought
the patient. While the same role is assigned to hospital staff in Private
hospitals, in KNH, once you get there, the medical staff are not responsible
for the casualty. No movement can take place if you don’t a person to attend to
you. Then again you are sure not to be admitted in the facilities unless an
Angel in human flesh takes up the role. So if your loved one is in a critical
condition, and you are man solo, you will have one of those moments you will
never forget at the hands of a callous medical staff.
One of the major cons of handling a patient if not trained is
that you never know where the patient is hurt. Instead of aiding in mitigation,
you may escalate the fragile state if the person has broken limbs. The airway
may also be compromised as a result of the patient not being in an accurate
position if you don’t know the accurate position. When the airway is compromised,
in most cases that signifies a portent outcome for the loved ones of the
patient. I saw a certain young lass whose sister was charged with moving her
hit a wall accidentally and the way the young lass squirmed was an indication
that such handling should be left to those qualified individuals. But this is
Kenya, you minimize costs through building high end airport terminals because folks
using planes matter a lot to the nation.
If you take a patient to KNH, you must be ready for the
hassle. The rigmaroles involve taking the patient for stool testing in a public
toilet that is not up to standard in terms of cleanliness if such test is
necessary. In fact, there should have been a separate facility for patients
that is given precedence in terms of proper sanitation in regard to the health
of a patient. If you are alone and the patient is bedridden, mark you, you will
have one of the most daunting tasks since the toilet is in a place that the
cots cannot access without compromising the position of the patient. Help is
necessary if alone.
One of the major folly of the medical staff am tempted to
call stuff is that they never guide on the next step to take if you never ask.
Again moving from one step to the next is a process. Before you are told which
other medical test the patient is required to undergo, it takes almost an hour
or two to go for another. Inside the tent which is meant for both casualty and
their loved ones, the sizzling hotness makes one want to go outside just to
take a breather from the heat and traumatic images of casualties that are not ceasing.
There are those from accidents and their clothes are blood stained you get used
to seeing once you have stayed for more than five hours trying to find
admission of your patient.
Of course, beam chairs you sit on cannot fail to have those
guys who have gone through major frustrations you think of your current
predicament as petty. There are people who spend two to three days before their
patient gets admission to the hospital. There was one man I had a chat with
whose daughter was on her second day there. He was trying to get her admitted.
She was having a fever and was also anorexic because of the debilitating
effects of the medical condition she was suffering from. She was supposed to
undergo through an x-ray which is a one minute procedure because the process
has been computerized. Along the hallways of KNH, you ideally feel the
frustration of those who were bringing their loved ones. It was eminent in
their faces and voice.
There was this kid who was being given initial treatment
while inside a makeshift casualty wings made of iron sheets with doors covered
with curtains. He was crying hysterically because of the pain he was undergoing.
It was a primal sound, one we're programmed not to ignore. Then I heard one of
the women seated on the chairs saying in jeng,
“Udi go liet to itimone nyathino top dressing. Akya gimomiyo oywak
kamano.” (Those makeshift structures are sizzling hot and the child is undergoing top
dressing- instead of wet to dry dressing-. I don’t know why he is crying
hysterically?)
The idiocy of the lady and her listeners was quite eminent.
Or is it the lack of proper diction? Ideally top dressing should be done to
maize or crops in the field. But in Swahiliu they say, ‘Asiyekujua hakuthamini’ (He/she
who doesn't know you, doesn't value you). Just though that applies for her
context.
Uncle Barry arrived at KNH some minutes before 1100 hrs. We
went for lunch at 1600hrs because it was necessary and in turns as we took to
taking care of him as well as satiating our grumbling paunches to be able to
withstand this chaotic admission process. After gobbling some light lunch of
soda and muffins, we went to feel the breeze in an open arena where multitudes
of people were waiting. They were waiting to see their admitted loved ones and queues
had formed at the entrance of the hospital. We sat next to the parking lot and
there was this vehicle with music resounding with this music of, ‘Nani
kama wewe bwana.’ Such kinds of songs remind you that we are living on
borrowed life, so you sit and ponder in as much as they sound dirgic (sic).
Respect for silence is what is called for in such situations.
Sometimes people stop talking to deal with their emotional response to what is
or has been sung. At such times you use that silence to reflect yourself. Those
are the times when you end up reconnecting with you spiritual side because you
have seen what tells you that indeed you need to appreciate your healthy life.
It’s like while sitting in looking at patients, you go to hell and come back.
You need to eschew things like call girls, drunken driving and living a reckless
life. Because whoever said we only have one life maybe lied. We have another of
being on the brinks of kicking the bucket. Such times you count your blessings
and they are realistic. Ailing is scary.
Before Uncle Barry was assigned his room, we had to take him
for to the pharmacy for prescription of the drugs he was to be given. There
again we had to wait as he was to be injected with the medicine since he could
not swallow anything. As those in charge of his movement, we sat idly on the
seam chairs. There were guys who told us they had arrived in the morning to bring
their patient to the hospital. He was also not in a stable condition. I saw him
wretch and looked aside. After receiving his jab, he left because that is all
they had being waiting for the entire day. We also saw the son of a certain
lady who had initially told us that he was having a stroke and paralyzed. But
he was not in a coma or paralized, he could not walk but I could see the boy
smiling with his brother though he had both legs plastered.
But the most fascinating were a bunch of guys who brought a
certain boda boda rider who had fallen and injured himself together with the
passenger. That night, so many of them were admitted as one boda boda rider confessed
that because of the greed for more money they had taken to riding under the
influence. The father of this boda boda driver was quite hilarious though.
“Huyu anaskia baridi sana. Naona kama anatetemeka” he said in
his heavy Kiuk accent. “Wacha nimtole him maji juu hii ndio sababu
anatetemeka” and with that, he curtailed the flow of the drip from
reach his son. Poor boy.
The nurses who were supposed to attend to Barry before
admission were quite unmoved and sluggish. We could see them engage in trivial
banter as they locked themselves inside the room they we to attend to patients.
Those moments you wish you could video them but since video taking or taking
snaps are not allowed inside the hospital you rescind on the decision. This is because
a matron inside had seen you taking selfies when the going had gotten so
laborious you eased off by taking photos and warned against the same.
Eventually, Uncle Barry was admitted at around 2300hrs. That
was half a day. It was on eve of 2016. While most people were either in
churches praying for having seen another year or in entertainment spots binging
or dancing to the latest songs to usher in another year, others were fighting
for their lives, with their loved ones in tow, burdened. Like my sister experienced
a situation where an elderly lady succumbed while waiting to be attended to and
to the by hospital crew, it was like a normalcy to them. She was covered and
the body taken to the morgue. She never saw 2016.
After admission of Uncle Barry, we went outside and crammed Isaac’s
Fielder as the process of dropping guys started. On arrival in town, feeling
hungry and weary, we went to a fast food and took the common chicken and chips.
That night, New Year found us in a mathree as we heard people screaming and saw
fireworks while on the way to the house.
Hasta La Vista, Baby.
[Picture Source: Google Images]
