“It’s a tough call whichever way you way you look at it.” Dr. Vegelos was moving in small circles heading to no definite destination. He was the most senior medical personnel of the state hospital besides being a research fellow at an affiliated non-profitable institute a stone throw from the main hospital. “ I suggested you give it some more time and finally things will fall into place. In this facility, we have seen and handled the most treacherous situation in comparison to this at hand at the moment. Added Dr. Campbell, who had to spend some nine years in the facility and including his internship they total to over ten years. “ Campbell, I have witnessed complicated surgeries in this very hospital some involving Siamese twins with a resounding success and river blindness (onchocerciasis) is nothing compared to these types of operations.”
“Maybe it is true, time will tell,” Dr. Vegelos fumbled into his pants pockets and retrieved a letter and packet of his favorite methods and quietly took a stick to his mouth. Slowly, and as if he had not heard his companion took time and lit the cigarette, “pew! At least, God knows how much I missed this stuff.” He puffed successively without uttering a single word, turning that his back faced Dr. Campbell and breathed next to the picket fence that separated them from the hospital staff hostels before turning back to face his colleague. “ This is a matter that calls for everyone's attention Mr.Vegelos,” Hiding his agitation and in a low voice, Dr. Vegelos responded to his “fellow doctors suggestions; “ It’s not that I am principally objected to the idea. My concern is the kind of money and time the medical staff has dedicated to the whole process for many years. Right from when we were young it was the same efforts. What have we achieved so far,?” He went on, “as compared to newer phenomenon such as Ebola fever and HIV and AIDS which the Global Fund has something to show for in the international medical conferences what can be said on the funding of the much-hyped river blindness?” He wondered. “ Do you think the fight against the disease is lost Mr. Vegelos?”
“Since early 1970s research scientists have been fighting this Robles illness and still it is a threat today.” Dr.Campbell quickly added, “ but the research institute, Merck & Co Inc has developed an active drug that is a solution to this debilitating visual ailment including carrying out some expensive trials to gauge its effectiveness, and it has worked. What can you say of that, Dr. Vegelos.” Mectizan was the trademark name of the dose. After such long and expensive attempts, Dr. Vegelos could not see the essence of more dedication on the disease(para,2)
“ Imagine sending one’s lifetime in total blindness.” Dr. Campbell said subconsciously. “ The whole life becomes less meaningless despite the blindness is not fatal as it is the case with AIDS, eh, eh the affected becomes dependent on another able-bodied person who ought to be engaged in more economic activities and the long run it impoverishes the household further. Huge budgets from the public revenues are directed in sophisticated weaponry for unforeseeable adversaries in the distant future. What is the priority, Mr. Vegelos?”
The cigarette Dr. Vegelos was smoking was no more than a bare stub, and he was awakened to its presence by an increased heat between his fingers. “Well.” He absent- mindedly took a prolonged puff which amounted to nothing in inhalation and tossed the butt towards the fence. “How many blind or partially blind patients do we have in the country?” Demanded Mr. Vegelos. The only known cases so far where registered in parts of Africa and Latin America and Dr. Vegelos could not fathom how the disease should be of serious concern to them. “If the much time and logistics spend in these far-off journeys was to be dedicated to other income generating programmes, for example, tree planting, it could be more worthwhile – besides river blindness is not the only cause of blindness in third world countries.” After a thoughtful silence, Dr. Campbell sadly added, “ even if we have fundamental flaws as human beings in our morality, as doctors we are still bound by our professional ethics to alleviate human suffering regardless the cost, geographical location or race. It was and still is our cardinal guiding primary doctor.” Mr. Vegelos seemed to be engrossed in intermitted contemplative moment and totally lost of an appropriate answer to his friend’s moot points. “How can we make a difference as professionals,” persisted Dr. Campbell.
Dr. Campbell seized the moment and further bombarded his good friend, “ what is left of us to do after the manufacturing company has waived the initial cost of the drug?” His friend did not raise his lowered face and so Dr. Campbell went on, “ do you mean to take the same position as the state not to get involved fiscally because there is no imminent internal threat?” After failing to get a third party to share the high prices of the drug, Merck & Co., Inc decided to manufacture and distribute the drug for free to the affected (para,4). Dr. Vegelos somehow, remotely started to analyse inwardly the real threat of the disease to the young and those supporting the families, “ it is dire, especially when one has no meaningful income to deal with the blindness,” he thought to himself. It was a challenge since those affected, that is, the patients were from Third-World countries and not in a position to meet the drugs cost. Dr. Vegelos in his imaginations thought of the possibility of abruptly going blind and how he would start a whole new world of not visibly perceiving the things he for such a long thought was normal and usual.He lightly stroked his face and down to his eyes and beard just to be sure his sight was still intact, “ wow, it is great to be able to see,” he thought to himself. He realized sight was a privilege not everyone enjoyed. He realized that the expensive acetate rimmed medical spectacles were useless to the blind, and this made him sunk deeper into the reality of the loneliness of such possibility of being blind (para, 4).
“So?” Demanded Campbell, “should we as well act with the same indifference?” Dr. Vegelos finally with a brightened face responded, “ Indeed I would say that I had taken the matter lightly than it deserves,” and he paused for a moment. “Why, after that long,” Dr. Campbell quickly interjected. Dr. Vegelos with a renewed zeal went on, “ in fact something has to be done and rather quick to save the situation,” he went on. “It is true Campbell it is not only by cash donation; we need to support the operational researchers already in place.” Dr. Campbell was excited by his friend's change of mind, “ definitely Dr. Vegelos.” Now Dr. Campbell was overly thrilled and wanted to hear more and more of his friend’s opinion with fewer interruptions. “We need to be in the forefront in this resolve but still have to involve the principal stakeholders in the respite countries,” said Dr. Vegelos. “In which manner, Mr. Vegelos?” After a short pause, Dr. Vegelos answered back, “ through involving these countries in capacity building. We should encourage technical efforts in collaboration with the donor funded programmes already working in these affected regions.” Dr. Campbell was over the roof with this humanitarian initiative, and now he was confident that he and his longtime friend stood to be counted in it. “ It is a splendid idea to involve the concerned communities; I had not thought of it in that line.”
Works Cited
Merck & Co Inc. The story of Mectizan.Controlling Onchocerciasis(River Blindness) in Sub-Sahara Africa. 13 Dec 2006. Web2016/04/30.Available at: (http://www.merck.com/about/cr/mectizan/).
