The factLast night at about 9:30 pm, a loud noise, followed by a deep tremor attracted the attention of the residents of number 4 Bada Street in Mafoluku area of Lagos. Since PHCN was effecting its usual off days, most of the tenants were already indoors, either slumbering or preparing to, But most rushed out to see what made that startling noise. It turned out that the fence of number 2 Bada Street had collapsed, trapping a Widow Mrs Uche .M. Umunnakwe, a secretarial assistant with the office of head of the civil service of the federation, under the rubble.After spirited efforts by neighbours, working with bare hands, she was dug out and rushed to a nearby hospital from where she was taken to the Ikeja General hospital where she gave up the ghost at about 12:30 AM.Matters arisingSomebody was at the wrong place at the wrong time some might say, and call to mind the Igbo Adage that states that ‘a strangers corpse is like a bunch of firewood by the road side’ but Mrs Umunnakwe did not die because she decided to wash her hands after exiting the bathroom where she had just answered natures call, no, she died because of the rot that has eating deep into the fabrics of the Nigerian Nation.The fence that killed her has been a source of constant bickering between the tenant whose room is attached to it in number 2 Bada Street, Papa Chineye, and his elderly landlady, known only a Ramota. Erosion has over the years eroded the foundation of the fence and attempts to get the landlady, who resides in the same house, to repair the damaged foundation had proved unsuccessful. She is said to have told the tenants to either repair the house or abide in it like that. Her stand is not alien to anyone who resides in the low income neighbourhoods of Lagos where the landlords and landladies are demi-gods who see nothing wrong in collecting rents for houses and not putting back even a kobo into maintenance.Fate’s handThe tenants whose room is also attached to the fallen fence, Papa Chineye, had just taken stuck of what it would cost him to repair the damaged foundation just yesterday morning and have even paid for the estimated fifteen blocks it will take to rebuild it. Neighbours attested to hearing him discussing with the mason that would have done the repairs. It appears the premonition of the incident was felt my a lot of people, even the deceased neighbour my Tony, an Okada rider, claims he told the woman earlier that day of a dream he had the night before of the fence falling, a claim that was substantiated by several people who overheard the discussion between them.The hospital’s handThe Holy Saviour Hospital along Mafoluku road where she was first rushed to is nothing more than a dirt caked consulting clinic that lacks even the sanitary ambiance that one expects from a hospital environment. Though the doctor on duty was game enough to examine her, his only submission was that she should be taken to another hospital. On getting to the surgical emergency ward of General hospital in Ikeja, the ambiance was a big contrast to that of the aforementioned Holy Saviour Hospital. The environment is as clean as a hospital should be and the presence of several health personals made the mind a whole lot lighter. But, their insistence on protocol in the face of human tragedy was cause enough for tempers to flare as did their asking relatives of patients to run around the hospital from the pharmacy to the x-ray department and so forth. One expects a hospital a big as the general hospital to have staffs for that as well situating, at least, mini facilities within the emergency units. In addition, one seriously frowned at the dearth of beds and ward spaces.Though the doctors and nurses at the Ikeja general hospital did their duty, it was done in a lackadaisical manner that bespoke the attitude of Nigerian health professionals, slow when speed is expected of them, complacent when compassion would have eased a sullen nerve and overworked, with too few modern equipment at hand to help speed up the diagnosis process.A good neighbourEven in her last hours, Mrs Uche .M. Umunnakwe taught a solid lesson in community relations. Of the neighbours that followed her to the hospital were representatives of the five geo-political zones, there was a man from the Ogun state, Cross River state, Benue state and the eastern region.For her soul to rest in peaceAt the moment Mrs Uche Umunnakwe lies at the Ikeja general hospital while her two young boys Ugochukwu and Chidiebere, both in their teens, struggle with the cruel reality that fate has bestowed on them.The landlady is still holed up in her room – not that anyone expects much from her based on her advanced age.The house is still crowded with sympathisers and curious onlookers who are attracted to the scene for curiosity sake.…And more houses will followThe immediate vicinity, from Eyinogun street to areas around 7 and 8 pure water are riddled with dilapidated building in their tenth decades whose owners are either too numerous to collectively carry out repairs or even modernise them. THIS SITUATION BEGS FOR INTERVENTION FROM THE GOVERNMENT AGENCY INCHARGE.
Comments