Dial - Season 2 - Episode 2

4 years ago

Dial - Season 2 - Episode 2

A few minutes later we came to the Health Post.

It was just a long shed divided with wooden planks. Its base was clay plastered with thin cement, but there were holes at several portions. There were a lot of people here, mostly women and children.

The reception area consisted of some hard benches. There was a long table at two sides of the area, behind which sat some nurses in khaki uniforms, and a couple in white.

When we entered the din died down as all eyes turned to me, and low murmurings could be heard all around. I followed Tawiah through a small space as we walked to the end of the shed, and entered a makeshift ward.

It had two beds on each side. My stomach cringed when I saw that there were about five children on each bed. Some of the children were sitting on chairs, or lying on the floor while they were being transfused.

It was a disorderly ward, and the most horrible thing about it all was the fact that the people were behaving as if this was a perfectly natural situation!

Aba was lying against the wall, and she appeared to be asleep. She looked absolutely sick and emaciated as a young nurse fawned over her.

The nurse looked up when we entered, and I saw how traumatic her eyes were.
“Uncle Tawiah, we need to send her to a better hospital, please!” she said tremulously, her face so agitated. “We’re losing her! She needs to be sent.”

Tawiah rushed to his daughter’s side, and once again there were tears in his eyes as he looked at me helplessly.

I stepped forward, and I saw that there was a silver name plate with black lettering pinned to the nurse’s uniform.

Her name was Afua Takyiwaa, the one Maame Ntiriwaa had mentioned.
“How are you going to get her to a big hospital, nurse?” I asked gently. “Because I’ve been told the boneshaker comes around weekly.”
She looked at me then.

She was slender and very fair, with huge eyes that were both exotic and beautiful. And she was young, not more than twenty-two, I guessed. Her brown uniform fitted her shape well, and I noticed how lovely her legs were.
“Oh, there’s a man with a tractor in the next village,” she said hurriedly. “When we pay him he would drive us to the next two villages where there’s always a car. We can send her through a car there.”
“You have no ambulance here?” I asked, and her eyes went wide as she shook her head.

“Listen, is there a superior here?” I asked softly. “I want to pay for the children in need of better care to be transported. Also, I want you to go on an errand for me when you get to the city.”

“Then please come with me,” she said hurriedly. “Let’s speak to the Senior Nurse in charge.”

I followed her down further the shed, and then she knocked on a door marked SENIOR NURSE.

“Please wait here,” she said, opened the door and went in.

She was gone shortly, and then she emerged, her jawline set tightly.

“We have to wait!” she said, and it was evident that she was very angry.
“Why do we have to wait?” I asked carefully. “I heard you saying Aba’s case is urgent.”
She nodded unhappily.

“Yes, but the Senior Nurse is attending to a nurse,” she said, her hands almost balling into fists. “They’re discussing some dress designs.”

Well, my fury just shot up ten notches higher.
I was so mad that I almost grabbed her and shook her.

“Lives are on the line here and she is discussing clothes?” I grated out angrily.
“Please, sir!” she began desperately.
I didn’t wait for her to finish, though.
I just pushed the door open and entered.

There was a table at the far end, and on it was a sort of calendar with dress designs on it. Two women were looking at the designs. One was standing beside the table, wearing a white uniform.

The other was not even a nurse, but she was sitting in the chair of the nurse, one finger pointing at a design that had obviously caught her fancy.

She was the Royal Princess of the village…
Maame Ntiriwaa’s haughty daughter.
Abena Adobea.

I glared at her, and she glared at me.
We stared each other down…and the only thing we had in common was the mutual hatred for each other. The truth dawned on me, and it took me by such complete surprise:
This girl was the only beautiful girl I could say with certainty that I hated with every little essence of my being!