Well, I can not explain why I am starting this blog with this story: I just have an attitude of almost always following my instinct. My instinct is medical. Its facts and figures as it concerns Nigerians. And, I am sure you will have a lot to learn from my instinct, directly or indirectly. Most of what would be written will be first-person point-of-view.
A lot has been said and is seen to be done on the deadly scourge –HIV/AIDS- in Nigeria and across the globe. In fact, we are almost deafened and blinded by the global campaign that comes via various media: radio, television, bill boards, posters and several other information, education and communication materials.
And it is on HIV/AIDS that we will kick-off our interactive engagement.
Our Young Man -in his late twenties- was brought into the emergency with a history of breathlessness, dry cough, progressive weight loss, bloody sputum production, occasional fever and so on (at least, to the best of the knowledge of the informant who happened to be the mother).
Our Young Man was said to have developed all these symptoms about four (4) months earlier (which I have every reason to doubt) and in no specific order. He was however taken to a healthcare facility in a nearby town where he was said to have been diagnosed with HIV (and her cousin) tuberculosis.
Our Young Man commenced treatment at this primary healthcare facility but later discontinued the treatment. The discontinuation was blamed on the distance he had to cover to seek treatment and the non-availability of his drugs. Apparently, his drugs were no longer available in the required quantity.
Our Young Man, consequently, sought curative attention from traditional healers (as evidenced by numerous scarification marks that bedeviled his light skin; with some prominences). And this is where the story is distorted from a scientific view point.
I do not have anything against traditional medical practitioners. They saved Nigerians from several pandemics. Before the advent of Western medicine! But if all that is done is to take a swipe at any and every ailment with the same brush, then, they invite trouble. Not only for themselves but, equally, for the clients.
Our Young Man’s traditional healers claimed to have cure for whatever is wrong with him and loaded him with vats of “Agbo”, “Gbere” and some other unmentionable sacrifices.
At presentation in our medical centre, he was accompanied by a young, dark-skinned, sexy-looking young girl with varied tattoos on her arm. This young lady (between 22-25 years) looked very much concerned about the quick recovery of our patient. She asked pertinent questions, observed everything, was eager to offer help and executed errands as and at when due.
Trust me, I inquired about her relationship with our patient and my curiosity was quenched in the affirmative -they are engaged, waiting to be married.
To cut a long story short, Our Young Man has been diagnosed to be retroviral positive, which has progressed to Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (AIDS). Secondarily, it is complicated with pulmonary tuberculosis and pleural effusion.
Permit me to assume that my reader has heard the words “AIDS” and “Tuberculosis” before, but as most would ask, what on earth is “Pleural Effusion?”.
Pleural effusion, explained in lay terms, is the medical condition wherein fluid unusually accumulates in the chest cavity.
Common reasoning tells us that the chest cavity which principally houses the lungs and is largely responsible for breathing should contain more of air. It is therefore an abnormal situation when fluid collects therein and of course puts the doctor at the challenge of getting rid of these ‘unwanted visitor’.
Asked of Our Young Man’s profession, he was said to have been a commercial bus driver covering long distance and has been in the profession for over 13 years. While the health care givers were battling to save this young man’s life amid the available limited resources, several constraints hampered the desired results such as low financial status of the family members (who most likely must have spent their fortune on this illness); unavailability of blood in the blood bank; delay in processing of laboratory tests and, reluctance of the family members to donate blood.
How will you feel, if I end this story by telling you Our Young Man eventually passed on a few days on admission?
Yes, Our Young Man passed on because he has been destined to die at that time.
Our Young Man died because he probably had unprotected sex and contacted HIV.
Maybe Our Young Man died because his ailment was not detected or treated early.
Maybe Our Young Man died because the drugs were not available at his choice health centre.
Maybe Our Young Man died because he was scared of stigmatization so he had to travel a distance before getting treatment. Maybe Our Young Man died because he could not get qualitative care as and at when due -even at the point of presentation.
And, maybe, the campaign against HIV/AIDS is not just okay.
We can go on and on sharing the blame on the government, the relatives, the healthcare provider, HIV, poverty and even the deceased himself but one thing is assured, saddening though, this death could have been prevented.
HIV/AIDS IS REAL!
