Raquel Gan

yesterday i had a worst fall ever from mountain biking. losing much blood leading to a blackout in an island without medical centre worried me for a good five seconds. then, it came to me that it was nothing; nothing compared to my fellow human race in war zones or medical ill-equipped areas. worse, if it is complicated with politics.

i am lucky because my friends have first aid knowledge. we have the luxury to afford not only rudimentary education but also additional life skills. on the other hand, some countries are struggling or even depriving their people from basic education. to ask, how would they know what to do if their friends or family members are down with infectious wound or any diseases. certain cultures or villages would definitely have traditional methods in curbing such problems. however, the western invasion (NGOs and UN-related organizations) in many rural areas have slowly eroded such practices and enforced western medical knowledge. hence, more and more people are reliant on western medications and equipments which are way too costly for the government or that there is rampant corruption. at the same time, more new diseases are surfacing which requires longer time for the new generations to source a traditional solution. in such instances, western team would once again emphasize on such shortcoming to rely on traditional based methods.

i am once again lucky because the injury is induced by myself. there are so many left dead due to the war fought ouside their house. they are more than innocent, so why did they die? in the past, soldiers fight soldiers in a war. modern warfare happens in urban centre where large number civilians stay. furthermore, more destructive and indiscriminate weapons are used which are unable to gaurantee the safety of innocent civilians. when left wounded, war zones provide an unfavourable situation in relieving the injuries. death rates accumulate, and i ask, what are we trying to achieve? just look at what shit america have done to iraq.

finally, how am i not lucky when i know i will recover once i brave through the pain in cleaning the wound? however, for them everyday is an unknown. even had they made it to the hospital, it is still uncertainties ahead. they had to brave the excruciating pain with the most raw equipments, sometimes without anesthesia. i would rather die. whereas they never give up, they are the heros in lives.

we are all humans, but why the inequality?