Revamping the health sector in our dear Rivers State under the Amaechi led government with his team in the ministry of health, under the leadership of Dr. Sampson Parker, commissioner for Health with the efforts of the Hospital management Board Rivers State is worth appreciating.
Also structuring of primary Health centres across the state is instrumental to saving many lives, especially those of women and children who are most times referred to the Braithwaite Memorial Specialist Hospital (BMSH), the University of PortHarcourt Teaching Hospital (UPTH) among others.
This is the positive step taken up as well by the present leadership at the Braithwaite Memorial Specialist Hospital in line with the vision of the health sector and needs to be encouraged in all ramifications.
Mrs. Rachael Bright Seji from Ahoada is a woman of great faith. Even when in the eyes of men her condition seemed irreversible, she still showed proof of faith in God.
Mrs. Bright Seji was taken to a private hospital when she began to feel an unusual sensation coupled with labour pains which the officers attributed to spiritual problem. She was then referred to the Health Centre, Ahoada to be managed by the professional there. By this time the situation had become worse. The health personels discovered that when the baby in her womb tries to make its way out to the birth canal during labour it will be obstructed by the fibroid that had dealt mercilessly with Rachael and her unborn baby: her blood level had dropped drastically and baby dead and was refer her to Braithwaite Memorial Hospital (BMSH) for a professional and efficient management.
On arrival to the BMSH, Rachael needed to run very important tests and needs two pints of blood to undergo surgery as earlier stipulated by the hardworking doctors and nurses in the hospital. Inability of running the tests and providing the blood was what kept her for more than a month in the hospital. Whenever she was checked by doctors on call and the blood and tests results asked for, they were not available.
It was at this point, that a staff of this weekly, at the instance of the child delivery of her sibling, connected with Mrs. Bright in the labour ward, after several day of building up friendship with her, sought to know the situation but was not given helpful detail by Rachael’s spouse.
By the quickening of the spirit of the Almighty God, she left Rachael’s spouse and went to the doctors and nurses who in confidence gave her a brief about the situation.
Immediately, the number one leader of the team, Dr. Olukunmi Ijeruh, Medical Director, BMSH was met and through her humble and co
mpassionate directives all hands went on deck to rescue Rachael’s life. The Heads of department of pathology and blood bank, Dr. (Mrs.) Okoh Dorathy and Mrs. Ogba Ugochukwu Augustinah with the diligence of their hardworking staff, prepared results within 3 days. Rachael was prepared for surgery twice, with the seven pints of blood let to her family to save her life plus the additional one pint donated by her husband, Mr. Bright Seji, totaling eight pints of blood.
When this weekly met Dr. Dayi Joy (Anesthetist) and one of the team members who carried out the first stage of the surgery which lasted for about 8 hours to know how the surgery went, this was her response; “In my many years of service, this is the second turbulent surgery I have ever experienced. My boss really had tough time. We almost lost hope but thank God, God did it,” appreciating the efforts of doctors B.O.A Altraide (her boss) and Dr. P.Tee who assisted him, with a smile.
Rachael is alive and is gradually building up her blood level under close examination, after which she will be discharged, when certified to leave the hospital bed.
This weekly encourages well-meaning Nigerians to walk to the blood bank of BMSH and other government hospitals to voluntarily donate blood, as it can save someone’s life just like that of Rachael. ###
Angela Inyena Anietie
