Nigerian COVID-19 survivor
recounts experience
 |
| Nigerian COVID-19 survivor, Oluwaseun Ayodeji Osowobi |
Oluwaseun Ayodeji Osowobi, the Executive Director of
StandtoEndRape, who contracted COVID-19 during a post-Commonwealth event in the
United Kingdom, has recounted her experience in the isolation ward.
Recowacerao - Abidjan, Ivory Coast
Speaking to the West African Catholic Church agency,
Recowacerao, Osowobi briefly recounted her experience and battle with the
disease in Lagos’ Infectious Disease Hospital, Yaba.
Seriously ill
Osowobi said that days after her return from the
Commonwealth event she fell sick during self-isolation at home and was taken to
hospital. Later she tested positive for COVID-19. While in the Isolation ward,
she lost appetite, had nausea, vomiting and diarrhoea.
In her own words: “Life finds ways of throwing Lemons at me.
I have struggled with coming forward, but I want to inspire hope. I returned to
Nigeria from the UK post-Commonwealth event and fell ill. As a responsible
person, I self-isolated. Days after, I tested positive for COVID-19. The next
days were tough. No appetite. Nausea, vomit and stooling were unbearable. I’m a
blood type A and COVID19 dealt with me,” Osowobi told Sodiq Oyeleke of Punch
newspaper.
I thought I was going to die
“I thought I was going to die and contemplated a succession
plan for StandtoEndRape. I was on drugs daily. Sometimes, I had taken eight
tablets in the morning, thirteen tablets in the afternoon, ten at night. My
system threw everything out! Water, food, soap and all disgusted me. But I had
to look at the wall and force myself to stay hydrated. I fought to live! I
fought!!”
The coronavirus survivor encouraged the younger generation
to desist from smoking and live a healthy lifestyle. “To every young person out
there, please give your lungs a chance to beat this. Can I encourage you to
stop smoking and live a healthy life at this time? A healthy lung is key!”
Need for more testing capacity
Osowobi added that there was a need for the Nigeria Centre
for Disease Control to improve the country’s testing capacity. “NCDCgov and
State Governments need to improve their testing capacity. Test
mild/asymptomatic cases too. Sending strength to everyone who is fighting to
beat COVID19.” Osowobi continued: “Some stigmatised me based on an article in
(the) national daily with subtle messages like ‘why did she come back to
Nigeria?’ (Today) I am faced with tears of joy. Nigeria is my home. Coronavirus
is not a death sentence. People can survive, and I have!”
Now discharged from hospital, Osowobi is encouraging people
to follow the advice of health practitioners and government authorities.
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