In a slum near the capital of the Philippines, there is a street jokingly known as "Kidney-Selling Street." Most of the residents here live below the poverty line, and in order to meet basic living needs such as marriage and home purchase, many men choose an extreme way: sell one of their kidneys.
While this behavior solves economic problems in the short term, is it really a wise move in the long run? What are the social and economic problems behind it? Is it really as it seems, selling a kidney in exchange for happiness and stability? Let's dive into this poignant topic.
Basseco, not far from the capital of the Philippines, is famous for its special "industry": selling kidneys. Most of the inhabitants live in poverty, with small, dilapidated houses and extremely poor living conditions.
Initially, some residents were deceived by unscrupulous people and sold their kidneys. Over time, selling a kidney has gradually become an open option, and is even seen by some as a shortcut out of poverty.
On this street, known as the "Kidney Selling Street", there are many stories of selling kidneys. Some people say that after selling their kidneys, they bought motorcycles, opened small shops, and their lives changed dramatically.
These words spread among the poor, and it sounds as if every kidney seller can achieve their dreams in this way. The truth behind this is far more complex than it seems.
Little R is a local kidney broker, and her husband used to make a fortune by buying and selling kidneys. Xiao R uses his experience and eloquence to persuade those who are struggling to sell their kidneys.
She would tell these people that selling their kidneys was a way to help them and convince them that it was a good way to solve their problems. In fact, Little R is more of a person who is taking advantage of these people's predicament for his own benefit.
As the number of kidney sellers increases, so does the competition. The price of kidneys is not fixed, and as there is an oversupply, the price is gradually being depressed. It is understood that the price of a kidney is about 1,500 US dollars, or about 10,000 yuan. For people who desperately need money, it's enough money to make them take risks.
Little D is one of many kidney sellers. His family was very poor, with a family of four crammed into a hut that looked like a livestock shed. After seeing more and more people around him improve their lives by selling kidneys, Xiao D was also moved. He got into the queue and eventually sold a kidney and used the money to buy a house in the slums.
The good times didn't last long, a fire razed his new home to the ground, and little D not only lost his shelter, but also lost his kidney, his body was not as good as before, and he could no longer engage in heavy physical labor, and his life fell into an even more desperate situation.
Such stories are not uncommon in "Kidney-Selling Street". Many kidney sellers were hoping to change their lives, but did not realize the long-term consequences of this decision. Once the kidneys are lost, the body's functions will be greatly reduced, and the long-term medical expenses and deteriorating health conditions will soon consume the little income from the sale of the kidneys.
The rampant use of shady intermediaries also exacerbates the complexity of the problem. They operate without any legal regulate, often buying kidneys at a high price and selling them to the wealthy who need them several times over.
This unequal distribution of profits makes the poor even poorer, while the intermediaries make a lot of money. Such a phenomenon is not only a huge moral disaster, but also invisibly exacerbates social injustice.
Why did the local government turn a blind eye to this? Surveys found that these illegal transactions are often "tolerated" to a certain extent due to the problems of poverty and corruption. Sometimes, even if the government wants to intervene, these activities continue to be banned due to the lack of effective regulatory mechanisms and enforcement.
For many kidney sellers, they often lack basic medical knowledge and health awareness. Driven by short-sighted money, they ignore the long-term risks of medicine. This ignorance, combined with a desperate state of life, creates a terrible cycle: poverty leads to despair, desperation drives adventure, and adventure deepens poverty.
Faced with such a situation, we can't help but ask: is this "get-rich-quick" approach at the cost of health really worth it, and how should society and the government intervene to break this vicious circle?
The story of "Selling Kidneys" is a mirror that reflects the deepest contradictions and problems of society. It's not just about poverty and health, it's about a deep reflection on humanity, morality, and social justice.
As a member of society, we cannot turn a blind eye to such phenomena. More attention and practical help may be what these marginalized groups really need. Governments and social institutions need to join forces to tackle the root causes of poverty, enact strict regulations to combat the illegal organ trade, and protect those who are most vulnerable from harm. Only in this way can we move towards a more just and healthy society.