LIFE Vs. POCKET: IN KUDI WE TRUST?

First, I'm ain't married yet but I do at times go on imaginary
honeymoons, vacation and hibernation to relieve my brains of mental
strain. Hence, it'd seem like ages since the last time I posted
something here; and those of you - my great fans - who must have
been worried about my absence, here's mental pabulum, loaded with
minerals, for your digestion.

No, you musn't be in America to see their currency: the very first
time I saw an American dollar bill right from my Nigerian hideout, I
observed the inscription "In God We Trust" printed on it. Now, if
you've been to the Northern part(s) of Nigeria, you'd hear "ba
turanci!", "sannu mallam", etc and, perhaps, "kawo kudi", etc. Now,
"kudi" means money in Hausa language, as "ego" is in Igbo.
Now, let's get deep down to business. There are many professions in
the world, and each profession deals with a certain aspect of human
existence to a certain degree. Truck pushing, drugs, prostitution,
robbery, political thievery, money laundering, hired assassination,
terrorism, gangsterism, hooliganism, political thuggery, forgery, wife
battery, etc are all professions, you know. See, I'm not a cop but
if you ask/bribe me, I'd say the teaching profession is the best in
the world.

Meanwhile, I'd like to particularize on the medical profession for this
is where human life hangs. I've nothing against doctors, mind you,
for I'd have dabbled in the medical profession but the thought of
sewing people as Tailors do to clothes rattled my fingers, ears and
teeth. So, I zoomed off and that was that. But I still give it up to
them, they are doing a good job. Hence, to our brothers and
sisters, fathers and mothers in the medical profession I say kudos!
But now - oh by Hippocrates! - it seems some of our doctors
nowadays are gradually deviating from the rules of the Art as
enshrined in the Hippocratic Oath in the sense that free, humane and
humanitarian services have been reduced or are no longer rendered as
expected (in clinics and hospitals); this, I'm awfully sorry to say, is
prevalent in Igboland.

What sparked off this update is the fact that the management of a
certain govt. hospital (name withheld) in Enugu state has been
charged to court over exorbitant bills against a patient, in as much
as the patient eventually died in the hospital.
It'd lead to debate if I question why doctors and/or the management
of hospitals charge astronomical bills before/during/after treating
patient(s). By implication, it'd seem a sick but poor man need not
contemplate medical treatment since he wouldn't afford the bills? Oh,
thank God for herbalists!

Often people are stranded in hospitals because they couldn't pay the
bills. What is really going on - are such doctors after the life of
the patient(s) entrusted in their custody and care or after their (the
doctors') pockets? Hence, the title: Life Vs. Pocket: In Kudi We
Trust?

There are different socio-economic classes as everyone musn't be as
rich as King Solomon, hence it questions the exobitant fees charged
in hospitals. Do such doctors take cognizance of the fact that
selfless and humanitarian services rendered will go a long way to
make this world a better place? Why the demand for instant deposit
of huge amount of money before attending to/treating someone in
serious and critical condition? Suppose the person dies before the
deposit is provided? I've even heard that politics and preferential
treatments are incorporated in some hospitals. Now, if all
professions begin to charge such fees or do those things, then we're
doomed!

So, I ask: what's the fate of those that cannot afford exorbitant
medical bills - they should just dig their graves, die, get buried and
rot away? Oh, poor men carefully calculate and regulate the rate
you impregnate your wives because of unexpected medical expenses
before/during/after delivery. Absconding and abandoning your wives
in the hospital is not the solution. Everybody, I charge you to pray,
fast, drink/sprinkle holy water/olive oil, bind and cast demons, and
avoid human elements that might land you unexpectedly in hospitals.
I'm ain't spoiling business for some people, I presume?

I however admit that certain medical procedures for treating patients
require special equipment or exceptional skills/expertise of experts/
consultants, etc yet is that an absolute justification for fleecing and
shearing patients like sheep? I monitor what I eat/drink and do, sirs:
hospitals and prison yards ain't for me - I swear!

Now, we go to church, shout hallelujah, jump here and there, but
when it comes to applying and rendering humane and humanitarian
acts it becomes a different ball game. Hence, I seize this medium to
appeal to our doctors and other health workers/medical professionals
to please UNDERSTAND that they are dealing with human LIFE, and
if possible, REDUCE exorbitant medical BILLS.

Ladies and gentlemen, I ask you once again as I rise, Life Vs.
Pocket: In Kudi We Trust?