Page 47 - Msingi Afrika Magazine Issue 12

AFRIKA
MY AFRIKA
HEALTH & HEALING
MY

The second phase in my corona- said I was dead. It didn’t matter
virus cycle was acceptance and since I was alive. I got to read most The beautiful thing about this phase
treatment. The doctors gave me of the goodwill messages after I was is that the pain, fatigue, fever and
hope but I could see they were not discharged. confusion were gone. Apart from
definite. They were trying their best. confinement at home, and the fre-
This was a scientific and medical I was informed by my staff that the quent interruption by the nurse, life
phase involving consultants, doctors, churches and clergy in Meru had was almost normal.
nurses, and the medicines they pre- held prayers for me. One message
scribed. I had no real fight against read that God would restore my Coronavirus should not only be
coronavirus. I became fatalistic, health and heal my wounds and I seen in negative terms. It turned out
ready for any outcome. would go out “leaping like calves to be one of the best, and most ful-
released from the stall”. filling times of my life. I enjoyed a
I was taken through a very strict “Corona Holiday”. For the first time
regimen of treatment and drugs like Their prayers were answered on in many years, I found myself all
Vitamin D360k, Zinc Remdesivir, Monday, March 22, when I was dis- alone, reflecting about my life and
Parafusiv, Ivermectin, Dexameth- charged, to continue my treatment my future. I enjoyed the warmth,
asone, Chlorhexidine, Xarelto, at home, but I was not yet out of love and friendship of my wife
and Novarapid. The nurses kept a the woods. The test still showed I Priscilla, my children, and my close
round-the- clock vigil. They kept was Covid-19 positive, but I was not family members, without any exter-
monitoring my oxygen uptake, in any pain. nal interferences. I also had time to
temperature, blood sugar, and blood read, watch TV, and follow politics
pressure every two hours for six I owe my life to God, Dr on social media, like other ordinary
days. Mwongera, my brother Dr Miriti, Dr Kenyans. I took time to take stock
Silverstein and team of doctors and of my political life and to tidy up
For me at this point, nothing really nurses who performed the scientific some loose ends in my thinking.
mattered. Corona had disconnected miracle. I have heard some people
me from everything. It put me out being congratulated for winning a This phase of coronavirus turned
of action. I felt weak and useless. “heroic battle” against Covid-19. out to be one of the most cre
The news of Tanzania’s President This is a self-delusion, I did nothing.
John Magufuli’s funeral ceremonies I didn’t fight. At the hospital I just
on TV only reminded me of the followed the doctors’ and nurses’
possibility of my own death; my orders. I didn’t even know what they
final exit from this world. were giving me. I was too weak and
subdued. It was a very humbling I did not have the usu-
Magufuli had a great send-off. How experience for me. If I died, that
would my exit be? I kept asking my- would be it. Everything would be al Covid-19 symptoms
self. Is this my final un-ceremonial irrelevant to me. You cannot defeat like coughing or sneez-
exit from the world? I kept praying death. Even Lazarus who was raised
that I don’t die, until 2022 when from the dead, eventually died again. ing, but I was feeling
I will be 70. At least I would have
attained the optimum Biblical age. The third coronavirus cycle was extremely tired, had a
more friendly. It was in home iso- severe back-ache, indi-
My phone was full of email, SMS lation because I was still positive.
and WhatsApp get-well messages I continued with treatment and gestion and a bloated
from family, friends, workmates, convalescence. I was put under a
political colleagues, and even from home-care nurse who continued to stomach. To put it in
my political opponents. Coronavirus administer my drugs and monitor layman’s language, I
had brought us together. When you my oxygen, blood pressure and
fall sick or you die, suddenly you blood-sugar levels every three hours. was not really myself. I
become everyone’s friend. I found it difficult to sleep on my
tummy with oxygen tubes in my just pushed and forced
A few Facebook posts said I was in nostrils, but after a week I got used my body to work.
the Intensive Care Unit, and some to it.

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