Revolution ” and she posted on all social media , were Eunice ’ s last public thoughts .
Only three days after she published what is now a public Manifesto , Eunice - Dr Eunice , the love of my life , died . Pulmonary Thromboembolism was the cause : a condition occurring in about 1 out of a 1000 individuals and often fatal , causing when acute a rapid death and without evident warning signs , but that with appropriate and prompt care can , in some cases , be reversed saving the patient ’ s life .
She collapsed in front of her car , while she was just about to jump in , during a sunny afternoon , on a busy road in the heart of Westlands , Nairobi . A place full of banks , shops , people . Full of everything , but without even a single ambulance , not one on standby in the area , not one that could be called by the public that started surrounding her .
She fainted and laid there , on the ground , for over 1.5 hours , surrounded by tens of people , and there she died , alone , without the decency of having an ambulance running to her , without the decency of having a system that dispatch to her a paramedic , even a volunteer , someone trying to do something else rather than just staring . Eventually someone , as it is the tragic normality in Kenya , put her in the backseat of a car and dropped her lifeless body onto a hospital bed , the hospital bed where my nightmare started .
And this is the ugly and wrong I kept referring to , the same one she fought against , the same I am pointing the finger against . All that tragedy I described above happened on a road 7 minutes from a major hospital , in Nairobi , one of the most developed Cities in Africa ; in a Country with a thriving economy , where 1.1 Trillion has been raised in taxes , but where its citizens when they collapse are left dying alone , without the minimum emergency medical support .
In Kenya its citizens , all its citizens , from the poorest slum dweller to the middle-upper class members to which Eunice belonged to ( perhaps with only the exception of those who she defined
“ upper-upper class ”, accompanied by drivers and bodyguards ) if they collapse in a public place will have no chance of being rescued by the public service they trust and pay ; their fate will depend solely by how soon a good Samaritan with a free car backseat will appear .
Eunice , you saw with such clarity the reality of what is happening to your Country , a place that myself and our daughter despite everything that happened we keep calling home . And your tragic death only confirms the importance of what you said : “ Stand up and be counted in a new revolution . A new Mau Mau movement , not to fight a foreign master who enslaved us , but to fight the inequality , the injustice and oppression that a few Kenyans enforce on us in the name of totalitarian leadership .”
So here there is a young and brilliant doctor who died and perhaps could have been saved , but that the lack of basic public ambulance services condemned to not having even an attempt of resuscitation ; there is a young baby girl crying for her mum ; there is a young desperate widower husband , a public health specialist who faced wars , famines and dangers to strengthen health systems abroad and eventually got stung by the poor health system back at home .
Eunice was never a statistic : she was exceptional in life and even on her last day on Earth , she died like a hero . With her public Manifesto , and her tragic death , which confirmed in the most brutal way the truth of her words , she has awoken consciences and stimulated minds . The entire Kenya Medical Practitioners Dentist and Pharmacists Union ( KMPDU ) was present at her funeral in Nairobi and burial in Kitale , the entire department of Anesthesia of the University of Nairobi , tens of doctors ; condolences arrived from political figures , from the Governor of Nairobi , from Ministers .
But condolences and promises of initiatives from Institutions , KMPDU and others are vane words if they are not translated into actions . Only the political leaders and the all different authorities of this Country have the power to make this happen . As Eunice said with some of her last words “ We want leaders who put our interests and well-being first and their pockets second . We want leaders who take pride in their positions and use their power to inspire and create rather than trample on and destroy .”
But most importantly are the consciences and minds of all us that should be shaken . Those are the ones that need to be awoken and stimulated by Eunice ’ s examples in life and her tragic death . The consciences and minds of Doctors and Public Health Officers , even myself , who have the duty and obligation to fight for a better healthcare system for Kenya ’ s children , the consciences and minds of Kenya ’ s middle-upper class citizens , who ought to shout as Eunice said : “ No more !” and truly start holding Kenya ’ s political Leaders , Authorities , Public Servants , accountable for their actions and inaction .
I wish that one day I may see many public ambulances running through the streets of Nairobi rescuing its citizens in need of urgent care , I wish I may be finally sure that quality basic and referral health services are provided to all citizens , regardless of their census and status and in a way that truly prevents death and suffering .
On that day , hopefully not too far , I will hold my daughter ’ s hand and I will tell her : “ Believe me , my daughter , your mum died like a hero . You need to know that your mum wished all of this , and you need to trust me when I say that she contributed as much as she could for this to happen , not only during in life , but also through her death ”.
May you rest in peace and soar with the Angels my love , I know you are watching over us .
Dr . Luca Saraceno , MSc , PhD is an Epidemiologist - Public Health Specialist - Health Advisor - Health Programme Manager . You can reach him via email at : Saraceno . Luca @ googlemail . com . Dr . Luca Saraceno , MSc , PhD is an Epidemiologist - Public Health Specialist - Health Advisor - Health Programme Manager . You can reach him via email at : Saraceno . Luca @ googlemail . com .