Welcome to Nigeria IV: Why our mothers shouldn’t die

Dear Dr Dooba,To say the least, we enjoyed care experience that money can’t buy.  Before my wife conceived in Malaysia, that is, after experiencing an unfortunate miscarriage in Nigeria, I went to, Ridzuan Hospital, a private hospital in Ipoh, the capital of Perak State in Malaysia. This hospital is located in Green Town – according […]

Dear Dr Dooba,
To say the least, we enjoyed care experience that money can’t buy.  Before my wife conceived in Malaysia, that is, after experiencing an unfortunate miscarriage in Nigeria, I went to, Ridzuan Hospital, a private hospital in Ipoh, the capital of Perak State in Malaysia. This hospital is located in Green Town – according to my wife, “it looks like a 5 Star Hotel!”
After having gone through many consultations with the female gynecologist, whom I was introduced to by my campus clinic doctor, I gladly went to her because she’s female. I was highly impressed with the hospital – the staff and the services were excellent beyond mention, to say nothing of the affordability.
After my wife conceived, ma shaa Allah, we kept going there for the first four weeks of the pregnancy. In the second month of the pregnancy, the doctor told us that, we can save the hardship of driving to Ipoh (about 37KM) from my house, and visit the nearest public clinic in our area. According to her, “our services are all the same”. Honestly I was surprised to hear this from the woman, whom I later got to know has a very large share in the hospital.
We started going to Tronoh Clinic, which is just two kilometers from our house. The services were superb. According to my wife, if our nurses in Nigeria were this friendly, we would have been happier. They speak mildly, with respect, care and consideration. And I agree. This was evident from the fact that my wife never complained for a day that she was treated badly or atleast, unfriendly. And all these services for just RM15 (N750) per visit? As a Nigerian used to our exploitative ways, I found it unbelievable. The first time we went, I thought the RM15 was for consultation or the antenatal alone, so when I was handed over the prescription note and directed to the pharmacy, I asked how much for the drugs? The pharmacist, or the pharmacist told me that, its free, “covered by the RM15 already paid”, to approximate his words.
These continued smoothly, ma shaa Allah, until the time for delivery.  They advised us to go and check the maternity ward, at least two weeks before the EDD, so that we could familiarize ourselves with the environment wouldn’t wander about when the time comes. I did exactly that, and so when it was time, I simply drove to the maternity ward in Ipoh Specialist Hospital, a public general hospital. The system at the Out Patient Department (OPD) is not any way different from what you get in the private hospitals. Some smiling pretty faces always welcoming visitors with smiles and asking how they can help.
After all the documentation, I was asked to go and pay RM1000 (N52, 000) as deposit. According to them, it should cover all the expenses of the delivery service and it’s only this much because I’m a foreign national. If the services did not consume that amount, the balance will be refunded, I was told.
My wife was taken into a waiting room, and was dressed in some nice and clean maternity wears. The gown was very big and roomy, and a skirt that looked like a wrapper. I was glad to see her dressed so modestly. When her labour started, I was called upon to be present during her birth in keeping with what they called “Husband Friendly Child Delivery”. The husband is expected to hold his wife’s hands, give her courage during the difficult times, massage her back to relieve her of the back pain, remind her to mention the name of Allah and to pray for easy delivery. I gladly did all that, as I look into the eyes of my wife.  
Finally after her delivery, I was excused so that she could be treated. After a short period of time, I was asked to come in and
pick the baby for the Muslim prayers. I did the “Khutbah” (Sermon) for him and gave him back to the nurses. Then we were told that, both the
dad and the mum would not have access to him again until later, so that the doctors could examine him. I almost stopped breathing and quickly asked a doctor, if anything was wrong with the baby. He said that it is usual for different specialists to check the baby’s health.
From what I was able to see, I counted five different doctors (consultants) checking at different times. I was impressed beyond mention. We felt special. We felt we were important. All these for just RM1000?
The nurses at Tronoh where my wife had her antenatal had asked us to call and inform them immediately she delivered. So I called them. They told me that immediately my wife returned home, I should call again to inform them. I did exactly that, and to my surprise, they told me they would be in my house at 8am the next morning. My mum had arrived Malaysia the day my wife was delivered of the baby, and therefore we have an experienced hand. The nurses checked on the baby’s weight and other things. They also taught my wife how she should take care of the baby, including breast feeding.
Seeing my mum, they said there was no problem with bathing the baby and the left. They continued to come to my house for seven days,
and on every occasion, they gave their best care. Every day they came, they updated her “Pink Book”, which is a book that carried all the pregnancy history from Ridzuan Hospital. It’s worthy of note that we didn’t pay for this extra care.  Even though we paid through our noses, I don’t think nurses visit new mothers in their homes in Nigeria?  Something I also liked is the fact that, despite the fact that the book was issued to us at a private hospital, the doctors at the public hospital were OK with it. It might be something different in Nigeria where each party tries to show its supremacy over the other.
The whole thing remains permanently embedded in our memories and we still discuss it with my wife and friends.