Ise abi Alafia
Always warm, always welcoming. This is how I remember her.
She was one of those people who was neither a client nor a business associate
but I always bumped into her at least once in two weeks at a café very close to
my place of work.
Shaba, how are you doing today? You look a bit tired? I said.
“Asake, I have been battling with flu for almost two weeks.
I have taken medications and homemade remedies, yet no improvement” Shaba said.
“Maybe you should see a doctor,” I said.
Very unusual, I bumped into her the following Monday and I
enquired about her health. She had not been to the hospital because she had
exhausted her medical aid for the month and payday was 4days away.“Four days? That is a long time, why don’t you go tomorrow or on Wednesday, I will give you a loan till payday” I said. Thanks, Asake but if I take any day off, it will be deducted from my leave days. I have planned this year’s leave with my daughter” Shaba said.
That was the last time I saw her.
Which Shaba? No, it cannot be Shaba, I broke down at the
café and I was inconsolable. I took the rest of the day off work and kept wondering
if she ever went to the hospital to treat herself. She did not live to witness
her annual leave and sadly work still continued.
She had a stillbirth, she had a stillbirth, my sister was
carrying a set of twins, and she carried the pregnancy for a full term – 8months then gave
birth to dead children” Warimu cried.
Warimu narrated how her sister was feeling a bit tired but
was determined to work till 8months in order to spend maximum time with her kids. She
kept complaining about how she didn’t feel it was okay to spend just 3months with
twins. After their devastating loss: her sister’s husband asked her to choose between being his wife or
being an employee of the organization she worked for. If she chose to be just his wife he agreed to pay her monthly salary till she puts to bed and
their baby is at least 6months. Her sister did not lose her life but the young
couple lost their first pregnancy- they had shopped and decorated for the twins.
This post is dedicated to everyone who has had challenges
settling hospital bills and those who are afraid of taking days off work when
ill or afraid the maternity leave is not sufficient so they had to work till
they are about to put to bed.
Health is wealth
Ise means work
abi means or
Alafia means health
Edited by Opson Eniola Dada
Too often we ignore our health because of work but as you said, work will continue long after we are gone. Thank you for reminding me of that fact
ReplyDeleteYes my dear.. Work will continue after we are gone. Atleast in our part of the world, we dont misuse sick leave
ReplyDelete