A ‘Dog Day Afternoon’

On that fateful day, I was prompted by an unexpected and tragic accident, to accompany two of my colleagues to one of the well renowned government hospitals around the capital. I’m still having a hard time comprehending the abysmal conditions of the so called medical facility.

A junk yard would better describe the state of affairs of the in-patients at the hospital. People were literally, sprawled on top of the other. Every bed in the facility had more than one occupant; patients were accommodated on the floor, in the corridors and in every available space. Therefore, rather understandably, the care extended to the patients was far worse than their accommodation. Serious patients, in desperate need of medical attention were left ignored and unattended. Despite this appalling and inhumane environment, one vivid incident would forever remain embedded in my mind.

It was evening and a crowd had gathered in the hospital compound to visit their loved ones. I noticed a rather scruffy looking dog around this crowd; nonchalantly going about its business, which is a common occurrence where ever you go. A security guard rang a huge, rusty bell indicating the start of the visiting hours. Like an army of ants, hoards of anxious visitors made their way into the building, along with this ‘intelligent canine’. The reason I say this is because, it seemed as though it had been waiting for the opportune moment to make his move.

The security guard at the door, made an unsuccessful but yet a ‘valiant effort’ to avert the dog’s intentions. But it just casually made its way up the stairs and into the midst of the sick.

We all have the tendency to aspire to attain what we don’t have, but such experiences truly enable us to appreciate the life we are already blessed with.