While deaths from infectious diseases are declining, the proportion and overall number of fatalities from traffic accidents are currently rising in a number of developing countries.
For instance, over the past 30 years, the number of deadly vehicle accidents has increased fivefold in Nigeria and Kenya. African and Asian countries have far higher death rates per 10,000 automobiles than European and North American nations.
Chidi Okeke a Sales coach and consultant, has come out to narrate how a road accident that almost took away his life a year ago changed his life completely.
“I escaped double jeopardy (Death and men of the highway). I remember that night; I couldn’t sleep as I would from time to time jerk off from my bed in shock and imagine how I would have been lying in state. I was in shock for some weeks. I couldn’t stop thinking about it,” he narrated.
He added that “I remember that to fully reset and find the mood to sleep, I did a 28kms walk to and fro my house. When I returned, I was exhausted and I then dozed off.
Some things did change in me though.”
He became very close to his family and very few friends that he had have (Not that he wasn’t close but now, he had to be intentional with them). He stopped procrastinating anything especially difficult conversations, showed kindness, and apologized when he was wrong.
He continued to explain that he always gave feedback the way he saw them. This is the only thing, he says, he feels he owes the ones he genuinely cares about. Say No when he has to and ask for help only when he can’t do without it.
“Do my best and leave the rest. If I did 99 right, it will remain 1 so I am learning my limits daily. So I know there is always room for imperfections, offense, and mistakes. And finally, every day is the day to live your best life and shouldn’t be taken for granted. I am always grateful for every day (News or no news day),” he concluded.
