Need for Appreciation and Love; Lesson from my visit to Psychiatric Hospital,Uselu.

It is my wedding anniversary today. I had already got goodwill messages as early as 12.00am from one of my brothers and a lengthy one from my mum. Both admonition and prayers rolled into one! That is typical of my mother anyway,such a sweet woman she is. By the way I am going to be on the road today. At least I am going to be with my lovely wife in the evening. That is better than not being around at all which was the initial plan. That is because I was able to complete all that I set out to do in the City of Benin yesterday.

And talking about my journey to Benin. Well I must say that it was full of nostalgia. Right from the time I got to Edo state while coming on Sunday,it was like I am back home. i think I have a lot of fond memories of the place. Although I was initially doing everything to leave immediately when I came to the City, I later found my feet and it was not really easy leaving when I had to leave for Jos about a year and a half ago. Now, that may not be unconnected with the fact that I started my residency programme in Psychiatry at the Psychiatric Hospital ,Uselu, Benin City. I love Psychiatry ,and I have grown to love the people who introduce Psychiatry to me as a green resident.

However, the reality of the dynamics of Benin City soon hit me when my friend that was suppose to come and carry me from the park could not. One thing is that you have to be careful in Benin as a lot of robbery goes on in the city of Benin. I had to board a rickety cab that took me to the house! That is Benin o. Although the rate of robbery has reduced drastically after the ban of the movement of motorcycles after the hour of 7.00pm, yet it is dangerous for my friend to risk his sleek Nissan Maxima car.Hmmm!

So that was my grand entrance into the City of Benin. Come to think of it. The whole period was very eventful. not with the sharp contrast of the weather between Jos and Benin. I lost so much fluid to perspiration and had to drink a lot of water too! But the reception and the feeling of comradeship I got in the Hospital was great. Starting from the hospital maid attached to our call room and resident room who nearly fell me down while she jumped on me with excitement, to the nurses who displayed a lot of affection and the account and admin staffs and of course my own constituency, the doctors. I really did not know that I was that loved for the 10 months that I was at that hospital. I must confess that despite my believe in recent times that I am now less emotional than before and that I can do without all the outward show of affection, I found out that all that was wishful thinking and unnecessary. Everybody wants to be appreciated and loved!

And so for the feeling of comradeship and all the cooperation I got from the hospital community, I was able to complete all that I set out to do in 2 days in a day including collecting some arrears of CONTISS and 15% of Salary increase that have not been paid me. Well that story is for another post.

Now I am preparing to go back home and spend a few hours with my wife on our 2nd wedding anniversary, witness history of swearing in of Obama as the first black president of United State while at the same time I was just wondering what the feeling would have been if I had met a lot of unfriendly faces, resistance or uncooperative staff. That would have led to a lot of frustration and internal rumblings given the fact that I travelled such a long distance to have these things done. Now, I understand that the need for love, and appreciation is one the most important needs of man and the lack of it can be a psychostressor that may have serious consequences on your mental well-being. That is if it doesn't lead to frank mental breakdown!