I recall a patient vomiting fresh blood and in one episode he'd vomit more than a unit of blood.

He got 6 units of blood in less than 16 hours and vomitted more than that.

The endoscopy machine was bad and they could not determine the source of the bleeding, yet it was

only the estimated blood lost was replaced and he'd occasionally fall into coma and we'd spent time to resuscitate him.

I recall suggesting that he had met the criteria for him to be taken to the theater for an emergency surgery, but... nevermind!

I was on call that day and I didn't sleep throughout the night because I was resuscitating him and and had to transfuse blood to him.

It was one long night and I had to monitor him closely. I got passionate about his case and wanted to see him live.

In the morning of the next day, he was conscious and could talk. He thanked me, his wife thanked me as well.
I was excited that I kept him alive because it's not everyday that you successfully resuscitate a patient in Nigeria.

I was happier than the couple.

We had a morning seminar, so I had to run to my apartment so I could change and meet up with the seminar.

I also did not feel alright leaving him behind.

It wasn't long before we reviewed him again and referred him to the unit that would manage him properly.

We did that when he was stable and we moved on with our job for the day.

At about 3pm. I was done with work and I went back to my place to change. I was so eager to see him and when I went back to the emergency ward, I saw that his bed space was empty.

The bed was no longer there and I was confused, so I asked the nurse at the reception if she was aware of the patient and she told me that he started having another episode and vomitted a lot of blood that he went into coma and they tried to resuscitate him but he didn't make it

I was sad...

Deep in my heart, I wished I was there. I felt I could save him. I blamed myself for not being in thr position to determine how things happened.

I earlier suggested, even after consulting the manual to be sure I was right, but... nevermind!

I was so sad that my whole day was ruined. I felt like a hero that same morning with a sense of fulfilment that I saved someone from dying only to come back later to discover he didn't make it.

It dawned on me that scenarios like this happen everywhere.

There are thousands of preventable deaths and sometimes it's just a decision away.
Probably if the endoscopy machine was working, just maybe he would have been alive.

It bothered me and I could tell that there's something wrong in the system.

When I said, "nevermind"... To be fair, it's not like I have any intentions to act like I am more knowledgeable than anyone in the team, but then I learnt from a previous experience that every specialty has its place.

Don't act like you're a hero in another man's specialty...

Anyone who successfully becomes a good administrator in a hospital or in a major part of the healthcare or maybe a healthcare company, whose immense efforts help to make the system better would have save more lives than a doctor saving lives one at a time. Everyone is important

In hospitals, there are several machines that are not functional.

They'd be there for years and they'd always be in the budget, but... nevermind!

Ventilators trended this year because of coronavirus, yet this is a machine that's a must-have in every hospital

It should be in every emergency ambulance. It should be at the security post, it should be in the emergency room. There are different types, but it had to take coronavirus for us to understand the importance of ventilators.

Do we have helicopters as an ambulance?

2 days ago, a lady shared with us how her baby born premature was airlifted for 2 hours, but we can't replicate same here in Nigeria.

If someone has an emergency in Lagos traffic, there's a liklihood the case would get worse because it is what it is.

I'm definitely not a hero and I'm not even sure if I'm interested in being part of the chaos happening in the Nigerian healthcare sector.
I'd rather get involved as a private healthcare administrator rather than join the league of those making things worse for others.

So if by any means this post would put me in trouble, please note that my hands are already in the air and alongside with others, I've made my own choice to not be a part of the chaos...

I'm still learning and there are so many things I do not know. By studying I will

By asking the right questions, by meditation I will.

However, I belive there are better ways to do things.

I'm not sure I understand all that's involved yet, but because it has to do with lives, then I'm determined to know what's possible. To connect the dots

To make it make sense!