Lessons from 'Dr Ebola'

Yesterday the world woke up to the sad news that a doctor treating patients infected with the deadly Ebola virus in Sierra Leone has died from the disease. The virologist, Dr Sheik Umar Khan, contracted the virus last week and had been in quarantine until his death. This is after he selflessly treated more than 100 patients in that country. In the words of Martin Luther King Jr, “A man who won't die for something is not fit to live,” and Albert Einstein was of the opinion that, “only a life lived for others is a life worthwhile”. The late Dr Khan put his life at risk to help others. These are the core values and principles of the medical profession: caring for others even to the point of death. During the execution of his duties Khan proved to the world that true altruism lies in giving up your life for others: “If I perish, I perish, but help I will.” In Namibia there are also those who work tirelessly to offer care and medical attention to others, but they are few and far between. Some local medical practitioners are the exact opposite of the example set by Khan, as evidenced by the constant cries of the nation for an improved health sector. Recently, the Ministry of Health pushed for a law that would exonerate any State doctor or nurse from blame if a patient dies while in their care, even if there was negligence on their part. Such legal immunity would indemnify the health minister and his staff from being held responsible for any unfortunate event resulting from anything done or omitted during treatment. This after several documented deaths of especially women and their newborn babies in State health facilities. The contrast is that Khan was concerned about the wellbeing of ordinary people while here in Namibia the health authorities appear to be concerned only about their own interests. A visit to our State health facilities leaves you with a bitter taste in your mouth because of the deplorable treatment of patients, particularly the long queues of people in pain with no doctor in sight. It is sad that self-sacrifice like that of the late Dr Khan comes but only rarely. May his soul rest in peace.