Re-reading my dad's emails to me over the years, I came upon one that he started it off with ´I want to live until 70, if God willing´. I thought wow! he aimed so low. 70 is reachable, a lot of 70 year olds here are skiing, partying, cycling or even doing the marathon. I laughed it off cos I was sure he would make it to 70 and beyond. I forgot our reality.
My dad passed last month, he was only 61 years old. This is our reality. Due to low quality healthcare, poor diet and an unhealthy lifestyle, a lot of people die before their retirement. The two main causes of death among the population are diabetes and stroke.
He suffered from a severe stroke and was rushed to the hospital. 3 days later he was just lying there. The nurses and the doctors didn't do anything. They just couldn't help him. The hospital was poorly equipped and the caregivers weren't trained to deal with anything this serious. So he laid there till he peacefully slipped away.
When I explained this to people. They were like ´but aren't you furious? ´.....NO! why should I be? this is our reality. My dad wasn't the first to die due to the poor healthcare we have and he won't be the last. And I have decided that I will not let anger consume me. A lot more has to die before we all wake up and say enough is enough. But until 80% of the population have a similar experience, this is our reality.
The hospitals are poorly managed and equipped despite the billions of aid money that keeps pouring into the country. Overcrowded wards, unhygienic facilities, poorly trained health workers, continuous blackouts, disgusting meals and high rate of criminal activities accurately describes what the hospital in the capital is like. Meanwhile, the members of the parliament are flown to Australia and even Taiwan when they catch the cold.
We are really focusing on healing and coming to terms with our fathers sudden passing. His death has pulled us even closer together. And that is our reality.
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