Hospitals – havens for mosquitoes?

Today is one of those rare days when I remember that poems were not the only  thing I set out to publish, at the time I started my blog. It was actually my intent to write about anything that tickled my fancy, anything I considered worth musing about.

So, here’s me coming around, if indeed there’s to be a coming around – I’m incurably in love with poetry and no apologies, there happens to be nothing I can do about it.☺

Now, is it just me or has anyone ever noticed that the very place where we visit,  in search of a cure to our maladies,  can end up being the same place where we pick up new ones? So that you don’t wonder what I’m driving at, let me quickly be clear, that I’m talking about hospitals. Yes, hospitals and no, I’m not talking about airborne diseases or anything like the Ebola virus disease (thank God my native Nigeria is rid of it),  though these are not ruled out. I’m referring to malaria.

A few times, I have been confronted with a situation where I needed to take my children to the hospital “now now”, or else …..

On such occasions, I’ve been surprised or rather alarmed, to realise, that the interior and exterior  of these ‘havens’ are usually a den of mosquitoes.

If you are “fortunate” to be visiting at night, any exposed part of your body is subject to assault from these tiny predators while you wait your turn at the reception.  And heaven help you (not) if the doctor decides to keep you in for observation. It means you will be given a bed – the very altar on which you will be sacrificed to those little devilish opportunists that are mosquitoes.

My family has gotten so wise as to include a mosquito net as part of our hospital go-bag, just in case… and don’t you even make mention of mosquito -repellent gels and liquids. The mosquitoes in my region are mean villains,  they come at you with the determination of a mercenary.  Invincible almost. So we manage with an insecticide-treated mosquito net, although we’d prefer to do without the insecticide and related toxicity but hey, you choose the lesser of two evils!

Now I’m not saying that our hospitals are not making effort but I think more can be done. In addition to fixing mosquito nets on the windows and doors of their facilities – by the way, these windows and doors inevitably have to be opened to let in either air or visitors (mosquitoes included) 😊 – hospitals’ management should consider installing mosquito nets for each bed.

I would have proposed regular fumigation, in addition but I’m not a fan of chemicals. Surrounding vegetation has to be cleared. The drainage system has to be properly done. Whichever measures they take, they owe it to us to protect us. Or how do you explain my going to hospital to get my malaria treated, only to end up being bitten by more mosquitoes! Let’s face it. Something extra has to be done. Unless the hospitals are only paying lip service to malaria prevention.

In which case, it would be safe to refer to them as “mosquitals” and the little pests they harbour as “hospitoes.”

Now tell me, what is it like in your country?  Are hospitals doing what they should to protect you in that regard? I’d love to know.