Medical checkup: A blessing

Hello!

Nothing can be compared to good health. I believe being in good health is better than failed health with riches. There are of course, certain things to do to ensure good health. One of them is going for regular medical checkup. This isn't as hard as people think. It is true that many don't like visiting hospital for medical checkup because they are scared of them detecting illness that they never knew existed. In fact, my mother is one of those people. She really detests medical checkup because she believes it is better for one not to hear the name of illness or disease that has not become known to the person than to be aware of it. She is of the belief that if the carrier of a certain disease is unaware, the disease won't have power over the carrier. My mother believes that the e fear that springs from a person's knowledge of a certain illness in the body kills faster than any the illness itself.

While many are always afraid to visit hospital for checkups, its benefits are undisputable. Regular medical checkup can help in detecting hidden illness in the body. It helps to contain them early before it gets worse. Personally, I do not also like going for medical checkup, because I do not also want to hear that I have what I didn't know ever existed in me. However, the whole story changed, when I started noticing some changes in my body. The first thing that caught my attention that time was swollen legs. My legs started getting bigger suddenly. I had no option than to go to hospital. They told me it was a serious thing that would have been caused another if I delayed. Since then, I don't joke with my health. I visit hospital periodically for checkups and I'm glad I'm priotising my health.

Also, the fear of the unknown is not the only thing that scares people from going for medical checkup. Other factors include: lack of financial capacity. Many think what is the essence of knowing something you can't treat? It may even result to overthinking or depression. One of my street brothers once visited the hospital to complain about the frequent stomach ache. At first, he was reluctant to go because of the series of test they would ask him to do. We got there and the doctor highlighted three possibilities which include: ulcer, appendicitis and another one which I have forgotten. Alas! The ulcer test (urea Breath Test) cost more than what this brother could afford, #20,000. Immediately, he felt so bad and helpless and regretted going to the hospital in the first place. He managed to get the money and got tested. It came out positive and he was to buy the drug to cure it for #25,000. While this wasn't too much to spend on one's health, our financial strength differs and could really mean so much to those that are not privileged. That brother felt so burdened that we had to help to offset the bills.

I wondered what would have happened if we weren't their to render financial assistance. Many don't even like to visit hospital because it is that only food that they can afford that they will tell them to stop eating and they will be encouraged to eat balanced diet that they can't afford. Imagine, telling the halve not not to soak 'garri' (cassava flakes) and encouraging them to be taking fish, egg, vegetables etc. Even though it will be good for their health, to them, it's like one is adding to their burden and mocking them that they have not. I just wish the government could also render more help to indigent people to encourage them to come for medical checkup. The people's approach will be better when they know they will be well cared for if atll something is detected.

Thank God, thanks also to medicals, my brother is fine now. Medical checkup helped in confirming what was wrong with him and how best to treat it. In fact, when I visited the brother's room and saw the series of drugs he has bought and used from self medication without result, no much difference in what we later spent. Information is power. People need more awareness against self medication because it sometimes costs even more.

I want to give kudos to some great foundation that subsidized the amount of drugs at some primary health care centre such as Kola-Daisi Foundation. I visited Kola- Daisi Primary health care in Ibadan, Nigeria yesterday, 14 of April, 2025 and paid a token of #500 for consultation. I also read on the wall that antimalarial drugs are free for indigent people. This is one of the good ways of encouraging people to go for medical checkup. Thanks for this great topic.

This is my entry to the sciFi weekly prompt.

Thanks for reading.

All pictures are mine.