The world, even in the midst of the deadly and ravaging Coronavirus (COVID-19) that has infected over 789,000 people and killed 38,101, has also seen the recovery of about 166,000.
Lagos, which is the epicenter of the virus in Nigeria, has recorded 81 Coronavirus cases, which remains the highest number of cases in Nigeria, as well recovered cases.
The state government recently discharged eight recovered coronavirus patients from the Infectious Disease Centre, Yaba, one of which took to a micro-blogging social platform, Twitter to recount her experience.
Oluwaseun Ayodeji Owosobi, in a series of tweets narrated her experience at the merciless hands of Coronavirus and how she fought for her life and became victorious.
As an activist, Owosobi said returned to Nigeria from a post Commonwealth event in the United Kingdom, after which she fell ill.
Life finds ways of throwing LEMON at me. I’ve struggled w/ coming forward, but I want to inspire hope.
I returned to Nigeria from the UK post-Commonwealth event (I totally enjoyed) & fell ill. As a responsible person, I self-isolated.
Days after, I TESTED POSITIVE FOR COVID-19. pic.twitter.com/iu8T6LMBXG
— Oluwaseun Ayodeji Osowobi (@AyodejiOsowobi) March 30, 2020
According to Osowobi, she had to immediately go into self-isolation and inform her close contact to get tested for Coronavirus.
Before returning, I had planned several interviews, I was scheduled to start a fantastic consultancy job & was also expecting to sign a contract worth millions.
I lost them all!!!
I had to self-isolate and also inform people I came in close contact with to get tested. #COVID19
— Oluwaseun Ayodeji Osowobi (@AyodejiOsowobi) March 30, 2020
While narrating her ordeal, Osowobi revealed that she got tested for Coronavirus after persistently calling Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) and requesting to be tested.
My friend & I kept calling @NCDCgov to get tested? What if we didn’t persist?
No info on my test result. At 12am, an ambulance was at my house. I woke from sleep & was crying. I got to isolation center, but no one was there to receive me. I waited in the ambulance for TWO HOURS.
— Oluwaseun Ayodeji Osowobi (@AyodejiOsowobi) March 30, 2020
She added that;
The nurses eventually came out & treated me like a plague. I sat in the ambulance feeling rejected. No questions about how I felt.
So many questions about my travel history. Same information I had provided to NCDC & Lagos State Government during profiling. Lack of data sharing!
The activist expressed that she was attended to after two hours, stating that;
After two hours, I was taken to my space. I felt lonely, bored & disconnected from the outside world. Few days after, another patient came in. We bonded. Days later, patients trooped in. “Are people observing self-isolation & social distancing?” I was so scared for Nigeria.
While at the Infectious Disease Hospital in Lagos, Owosobi said she felt she was going to die in the hands of the deadly disease, so she contemplated drafting out a succession plan for her activism organization, Stand To End Rape (S.T.E.R) Initiative
The next days were tough. No appetite. The nausea, vomit & stooling was unbearable. I’m a blood type A & #COVID19 dealt w/ me.
I’ll share daily symptoms & recovery process in a video tomorrow.✌🏽
I thought I was going to die & contemplated a succession plan for @StandtoEndRape.
— Oluwaseun Ayodeji Osowobi (@AyodejiOsowobi) March 30, 2020
I was on drugs daily. Sometimes, I‘d take 8 tablets in the morning, 13 tablets in the afternoon, 10 at night. My system threw everything out!
Water, food, soap & all disgusted me. But I’d look at the wall & force myself to stay hydrated — drank ORS. I FOUGHT TO LIVE! I FOUGHT!! pic.twitter.com/8MUZsSUrsG
— Oluwaseun Ayodeji Osowobi (@AyodejiOsowobi) March 30, 2020
After being nursed back to life at the isolation centre in Lagos, another set of tests were carried out on her, with came back negative.
Days after, the Doctors shared a goodnews that I tested negative. I shared this news w/ family & friends! My blood sample was taken & I also tried to donate my plasmapheresis to help others. I hoped to be discharged.
I waited to be discharged, but for two days, nothing happened. pic.twitter.com/8WX5LYntkN
— Oluwaseun Ayodeji Osowobi (@AyodejiOsowobi) March 30, 2020
I was unsure of what was going on. Why haven’t I been discharged? Should I be in the same ward? Could I get reinfected? I was worried but remained calm.
On the 3rd day, Doctors said, “well, we worked w/ the info we had of you testing negative, but one result came back positive.”
— Oluwaseun Ayodeji Osowobi (@AyodejiOsowobi) March 30, 2020
Today, I am PROUD to inform you that I MURDERED COVID-19 & have tested NEGATIVE TWICE! I HAVE BEEN DISCHARGED!🤸🏾♂️
I bless God for His mercies.🙏🏽
The nurses at IDH Yaba were fab. They deserve accolades for their hardwork.
Thank you Governor @jidesanwoolu for coming to see me.🙏🏽
— Oluwaseun Ayodeji Osowobi (@AyodejiOsowobi) March 30, 2020
She thanked Lagos Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, Lagos Commissioner for health, Professor Akin Abayomi and the health team at Infectious Disease Hospital (IDH) in Lagos State for helping win the battle between herself and the Coronavirus disease.
Owosobi, however advised the state government and NCDC to encourage more people to get tested by improving their testing capacity.
