By Markson Omagor
(Writer)
Continued from; 59 year old Town Clerk Reveals How Nephew Plotted His Arrest, Imprisonment.
That story had kept us busy till it was lunch time lock up. It was at the same time that I was rudely reminded of my malaria. I chose to go to M/BAY HOSPITAL.
At the gate to the Hospital, an overly alert R.P asked where I was going.
“Off course to the Hospital,” I replied.
He denied me entrance and advised me to look out for R.P Hospital to escort me inside. Then luck came my way. Doctor Boma, the overall R.P Hospital came by. Implored him to take me inside. He refused too, saying he did not come with me, he did not know me. Thereafter, he asked me what my problem was.
Stupid questions No. 1 but I answered telling him I was sick.
Then he asked again, wanting to know from me what I was suffering from. Stupid question No. 2. How was I supposed to know my ailment? I thought it was the Doctors profession to diagnose. I answered him to that effect and reminded him too, that sickness has no appointed time. He said more gibberish that I bothered less to listen to. I walked back to pick my order from Sergeant Purchase and retracted back to my ward. I could feel the swell and dryness in my throat!
Back in the ward, I picked the remaining leaf of Aloe Vera for boiling. I had survived on this plant’s boiled juice for the last four days and back to it I returned. I found Odongo mingling posho on one improvised cooking stove. I asked him if he could boil for me the Aloe Vera. He answered in the affirmative save for the fact that I had to wait for this one stove he was using.
I asked a neighboring cook if his stove would shortly be free and he said yes. He then gave me a dirty saucepan which without delay I proceed to clean. Both Odongo and this other cook were alarmed; my actions seemed to bear some sort of abomination to them.
To me however, my mood dictated that if I had to get things done, I should do them myself. Odongo attempted to get the saucepan from me, but I was already walking towards the water tap from whence I returned with water for boiling my leaf. Odongo still told me to wait as his stove was soon to be free. I think I ignored him because I proceeded to pick small pieces of wood and fed them into the given stove and soon the Aloe Vera was boiling. He ensured he took over from there as I was politely asked to go and wait in the ward. I followed the instructions.
Odongo then brought me milk tea which was my lunch for the day. By the time I was through with tea, the Aloe Vera was ready too. I swallowed the bitter stuff and proceeded to cover myself with a blanket. Super for the day was posho and beans little of which I managed to eat anyway. I slept and miraculously; it was deep sleep leading me into a Tuesday, the 15th of February.
TUESDAY
I reported for work as usual but on my way back to the ward for breakfast, I met the Dr. Boma who called out after me.
“Mzee……….”
I simply looked towards his direction and he continued in good English
“How are you?” he greeted.
“Off course am not fine.” I answered rather curtly.
“…Am sorry. But please come after breakfast and I take you to Hospital…..”
In some micro seconds, I kept quiet and quickly reasoned that I needed to gather all my means to survive in this hostile environment and this Doctor Boma could be one survival helper.
“………….Okay….. “ I replied and trudged on as my knees were showing signs of catapulting.
Indeed after breakfast, I reported to the gathering point for those intending to go to hospital. Mine was not a special case, we were actually 23 in number. After being dressed in Hospital Uniform and counted we were matched to the Hospital and while there we waited.
They start with fresh referrals. Then those who had come back for review. Then those who come to pick routine treatment or doses. I still waited but very impatiently.
Acaitum then appeared from the main entrance to the Hospital following a Nurse who hails from my county, Kasilo. I then asked him if he had picked for me coartem and yes he had. He gave me the full adult dose and being satisfied that my problem had been solved, I walked back. But before I could open the gate, R.P Hospital gate quickly shouted at me, “OPD(Out Patient Department) go back, OPD go back”. I didn’t click, I continued walking towards the gate.
The man literally ran towards me shouting that I was disobeying his orders. I nearly snapped but thank God, I quickly realized I was a prisoner after all, I obeyed and walked back and waited until at least six others had got treatment and wished to move back to the Wards. So I moved together with them, with my coartem.
