Mrs Folakemi of Ede local government in Osun state first appeared on the internet in November 2023 as the woman who had been suffering from a serious case of goiter for many years. Goiter is a medical disorder defined by the enlargement of the thyroid gland, which is positioned near the base of the neck.
Mrs. Folakemi Was Giving A Second Chance
Mrs. Folakemi clearly needed medical attention, as her goiter was already covering and taking up more than half of her neck. Every day, she searched the streets for medical assistance, looking for someone willing to help her condition. Mrs. Folakemi appears to have been fortunate, as a good Samaritan led her to a team of doctors who offered her free medical services to alleviate the burden on her neck.
You would expect that a person in dire need of medical attention, such as Mrs. Folakemi, would seize the opportunity to get treated right away. Unfortunately, Mrs. Folakemi was consumed by an array of thoughts when she suddenly declined the offer of treatment. She insisted that the money contributed for her surgery be paid to her in cash, which was 300,000 Naira.
What’s The Repercussion of Mrs. Folakemi’s Action?
It makes sense that people would be concerned and want to persuade Mrs. Folakemi to return to surgery, which is exactly what the NGO did. However, Mrs. Folakemi was oddly insistent about taking the money, and that’s exactly what she did. She went home after accepting this money. Mrs. Folakemi lost her life quite suddenly a few months after this incident. I hope her kind soul finds peace.
In addition, I can’t help but wonder what Mrs. Folakemi was thinking. There are always options in life, and this one was given to her. Unlike occasionally, society didn’t ignore her. How come she suddenly turned down her second chance at life? The majority of people are unconcerned about this and hold Mrs. Folakemi accountable for her misfortune. Gogoman said, “typical women!! always take money above all things, even their own life.” OmoNobaUku commented, “What mentality has she got? N300K versus risk to her life?”
But what if this innocent woman feared for her life? We cannot dispute that persons like this would have lived timidly, with little exposure to healthcare-related issues. It’s understandable for her to be nervous about things like this, which require a lot of bleeding, needles, and sutures. She presumably wondered whether she would have died if she had undergone surgery. There is little information on Mrs. Folakemi’s family, however she may have children to care for. The prospect of entering a surgical room and emerging lifeless could have been scary for her. What would become of her children, she wondered.
What’s The Verdict?
In such instances, rather than pointing fingers and figuring out who is and is not to blame, it is important to address the situation with empathy and understanding. Do you remember the proverb that you cannot turn back the hands of time? So it is only from here that the government and its citizens should take active actions to avoid tragedies like this from happening again.
Government and healthcare institutions should prioritize education and awareness campaigns, particularly in rural areas where access to healthcare information may be limited. Many people, like Mrs. Folakemi, may be inexperienced with medical procedures and hold unwarranted concerns or misconceptions about them. People can make better health decisions with more knowledge and assistance.
Furthermore, the government could attempt to improve access to healthcare, particularly in rural areas. This could entail establishing mobile clinics, giving transportation aid, or subsidizing medical expenses for individuals in need. Individuals like Mrs. Folakemi may feel more comfortable getting treatment if healthcare becomes more accessible, without the added financial stress.
