Side Dish

Photo credit: AdelaideNow

The Nigerian Health Care system is one I've seen and heard people worry about. A couple of weeks back, one of my fellow "corps member"; Sandra was hit by a motor cycle aka okada. You should have seen her, it was not a pretty sight. What I still can't believe is that her so-called sympathizers also assisted in stealing her money. As they say, this is Lagos! Shine your Eye!

That day, I decided to play the role of good Samaritan by driving her to the Primary Health care Clinic near our local government office. On getting there, communicating with the security guard was quite a task as he did not understand a word of English or my non-accent Yoruba. I've really got to learn this Yoruba language oh!

At 9am, the reception area is deserted, we had to walk to the "consulting room" which looked more like the admission ward to me. Anyways, the matron seemed quite upset we walked in there and leads us back to the reception area where Sandra was registered and attended to.

At the pharmacy which could have passed for a broom cupboard, as soon as we walk in, the lady tells us to wait outside the room that she's busy. Busy doing what you might ask. . . (dramatic pause). . . EATING! And here was a patient who was in need of medication. We literally had to wait 18 minutes for her to finish. Then in the process of giving the drugs, she says we have to pay five hundred Niara and my reaction is:
1. It's a public hospital
2. NYSC corps members are to use government owned hospitals because its free for them there.
Yes its just =N=500 but i do not like to be cheated. After giving the money, Sandra complains she's still in pain, the pharmacist then turns to me and says "eh will you go outside and buy her paracetamol and phenegan for injection?" Say what?!!! Outside is Sura market! Where am I supposed to find such among the yam and pepper sellers?

On the way out, I asked for a receipt for the =N=500 (you don't know me) so I could get a refund from the NYSC office. You should have seen the uproar the woman and her co-workers went in. Apparently, they don't give receipts. They were quick to collect their drugs and tell us to go to the staff clinic where they might not have any of the drugs but could give us a receipt. In the meantime, the clinic smelt like a BUKA!

After this experience, I no longer blame people who go to private hospitals and don't mind paying an arm and a leg (maybe that's not the right term here). I don't blame people who don't mind paying through their noses or even owe hospitals money all in the name of GOOD HEALTH CARE.

As they say health is wealth. x

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Main Course: Tidings Of Joy

This post was supposed to come much earlier than this but a sister was busy planning bridal shower, looking for a job and helping Livy with wedding planning stuff.

 

This bridal shower was the first I have ever organised for any of my friends. It turned out to be so much fun, never mind during the advice session, me and one of the girls had an argument about when to have kids. In my own opinion, after getting married, I would wait two or three years before having kids. I mean, raising kids is a full time job and requires dedication, love, care and plenty of attention and money. And me I can't bring a child to the world to suffer. In the words of Ese, "anything can happen!"

I can't believe this wedding has come and gone, after months and months of planning; just one day and it was all over. Wedding planning is so stressful, even when you have a wedding planner. Weddings are also very expensive especially when you want good quality from the cake, drinks, food, venue, decorations, flowers, dresses, shoes, etc. All the same, I can't wait for my own big day!!!

 

I spent last weekend literally running, walking and dancing in heels. One of my best friend's Livy got married last Saturday. There was the pre-party on Friday the day before the wedding which went well only I felt the ladies needed a lot of alcohol in their system, and the guys needed to loosen up, it was a bit too calm for me.

Thank God the wedding was at 1pm, this sister was moving in slow motion. Surprisingly, between ironing, fixing up our hair, make up et al we were all ready before 12:40pm.

The wedding was so so beautiful, the bride looked so beautiful. When it got to the part of saying the vows, I swear, I wanted to go and shake Livy and say "sister do you know what you are doing? You are getting married, no more single life, no more me and the girls". I had tears in my eyes oh! Wanted to cry, still haven't cried. Almost cried at the dinner after the wedding, OMG I will miss my friend!

It was a great weekend, one of the best I've had this year; re-connected with old friends and made new ones. Here's a toast to new beginnings , Olivia and Buchi, happy married life! xxx

 

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Starters

This is something I should have started a long time ago; creating a blog, but I'm just doing it now. I guess I just needed that push (Thank you Hadiza and Oyinwa).

Just finished NYSC camp a couple of weeks ago and I've come to realise with all the fetching of water/lifting metal buckets, jogging, marching, sleeping on the floor and living each day on a ready planned time-table, I'm not a boot camp girl. In other words, I can't live without the luxuries of the world ; running water (in the bathroom), a toilet I can sit on, hot water, ready made appetising food, air conditioning, power points to charge my phones, my bed and four pillows, etc.

Now I'm in the real world and this sister needs to get a JOB. Got posted to an I.T company, but that's not where my heart is. I'm trying to build a career for myself in Broadcast Journalism. I studied Mass Communication, majored in broadcasting, took a basic broadcast presentation course at FRCN. Seems like I'm putting my CV on my blog. Lol. Anyways, all I'm looking for now is an opportunity in a media company or firm, you know, a TV or radio station.

One thing's for sure I've got talent, I'm not bragging or anything, I mean I went through a phase where I didn't believe in myself, yet all the people in my life did, even people I was just meeting for the first time. Now, this sister has got her act together, I'm putting myself out there cause I'm ready to take on the world.

Princess Irede Abumere is the real thing!

Watch out! (Nigerian movie trailer voice) lol. x

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