Maja Knezović, Cim, Bosnia & Herzegovina
A Comedy of Errors
Author: Maja Knezović
Located approximately 200 meters away from the main hospital in Mostar, the suburban neighborhood of Cim begins at Smrčenjaci Street. Prior to the recent introduction of a roundabout, this area was plagued by what was arguably the city’s most troublesome traffic intersection, posing a serious threat of accidents. We were hopeful when news broke that a solution was finally in the works. However, our optimism quickly waned upon seeing the sign posted by the construction company, indicating the commencement and projected duration of the project – two years. The residents of Cim, who have long felt a sense of neglect, couldn’t help but wonder why such a straightforward task would require such an extensive timeframe when similar projects in the city center are completed much more efficiently. The roads leading to our neighborhood are often deemed inconsequential and receive minimal attention and investment, as if they are of little importance to the overall vitality of the city. To add to the absurdity and irony of the situation, even those two years proved insufficient to complete the undertaking. Consequently, we found ourselves enduring three long years and two months of navigating through torn-up roads, muddy paths, and billowing clouds of dust.
In November 2022, a substantial amount of rainfall resulted in reduced visibility on the roads and a rise in traffic accidents. The south wind that blew that day was reminiscent of the wind during the era of the Dubrovnik Republic, which enforced a law prohibiting any discussions, decisions, or legislation to take place while this southern wind was blowing. The heavy humidity had a profound impact on people’s breathing, and the psychiatric department was thrown into a state of mild chaos.
On that particular day, my journey to work took longer than usual. The ongoing construction work and the closure of the main road led to chaotic congestion on the other two alternative routes.
Fortunately, being familiar with the local area, I opted for the third available road, despite it being the narrowest in Mostar and its surroundings. This road, although lacking the capacity for simultaneous two-way traffic, proved to be a blessing as there were no encounters with oncoming vehicles. Fortunately, I managed to reach my workplace without facing any significant hurdles.
As a doctor working in the emergency room at that time, I closely monitored various statistics to anticipate the intensity of cases and incoming calls on different days. This allowed me to have a general idea of which days could potentially present more challenging situations. Unfortunately, that specific day happened to be one of the most demanding. Coincidentally, it aligned with the decision to commence road resurfacing after a gap of over three years.
By the end of 2022, the scale of the COVID pandemic had diminished compared to earlier days, but the number of cases remained substantial. In response to the ongoing situation, a dedicated COVID clinic was established, equipped with specialized teams to provide care for severely ill patients. The clinic would only accept patients from the emergency services if their condition was critical and required immediate attention and admission.
One of the team members responsible for contacting the dispatcher was my cousin and neighbor, Frano. On that particular day, he called us urgently as a woman’s condition had deteriorated, resulting in a drop in her oxygen levels. Since their vehicle lacked an oxygen tank, it fell upon us to ensure that the lady was promptly transported to the appropriate department. During the conversation with the dispatcher, Frano inquired about the staff on duty, and upon learning that it was me, he simply mentioned that it was Danica from Kovačevac, confident that I would recognize her and know where to take her. The realization that we had to head towards Cim sent a chill down my spine, accompanied by an overwhelming sense of discomfort. I was well aware that navigating through the congested roads leading to Cim would consume valuable time. With determination not to be trapped in the traffic congestion in a situation where even a few seconds could have life-or-death consequences, we opted to follow the same path I had taken earlier in the day. Fortunately, luck was on our side once more, allowing us to navigate that dreadfully narrow road without encountering any vehicles coming from the opposite direction for the second time that day.
We swiftly reached Kovačevac, and given the close-knit nature of our neighborhood, I stormed into Danica’s house as if it were my own and shouted, “Come on, Danica, we need to go to the hospital.” Danica resisted, initiating the expected tug of war that often accompanies our interactions with older individuals—they simply refuse to go to the hospital. Their fear of never returning looms large. With mounting panic, anxiously anticipating the next urgent call, my patience began to wear thin. In the blink of an eye, I found myself grasping Danica’s hand while urgently instructing my technician, Anda, to lend a hand and help usher her into the vehicle.
Danica stared at us in a state of shock momentarily before blurting out, “Andrea, where are you taking me?!” While I prepared the oxygen tank, I began to explain that we were transporting her to the COVID clinic due to her feeling unwell. “Your oxygen levels are dangerously low, and our vehicle is the only one equipped with an oxygen tank.” She continued to gaze at me with a perplexed expression for a few more seconds before exclaiming, “But I don’t have COVID! That’s the other Danica, the one who lives on the street above!” In that instant, my legs turned weak as a sudden realization hit me that, amidst the overwhelming panic and nervousness, I had completely forgotten to follow our usual protocol when visiting someone’s home—to inquire about the caller, the number of individuals expecting us, and to verify that we were at the correct person’s residence.
Moreover, I failed to notice that Danica appeared perfectly fine and that no one was present who had been waiting for us or preparing her belongings for the hospital. It was a stark contrast to the situation with the correct neighbor named Danica, whose son was indeed waiting patiently for us, assuming our delay was due to the road construction and inclement weather conditions.
In addition to the immediate shock and disappointment I felt towards myself in that moment, as things eventually turned out fine and the other Danica made it to the hospital on time, a growing sense of anger started to surge within me, directed towards the roundabout itself and the city authorities’ handling of the situation. It is disheartening to witness the dismissal of areas like Cim or any other non-central parts of the city as insignificant. However, Cim is, in fact, a large residential neighborhood with a substantial workforce that commutes to and from the city center daily. Moreover, if our team and vehicle become trapped in Cim due to infrastructure negligence, the entire city is left without access to our vital services and emergency assistance. Failing to acknowledge the intricate interdependencies within a system, the consequences of neglecting any link in the chain can be severe and detrimental.