“In the depth of winter, I finally learned that within me there lay an invincible summer.” ― Albert Camus

Hola people!

It has been ages I know right! I apologies. I look forward to being regular now. You can ask all your questions later, but first, let me share this very interesting personal tale of triumph from my friend. I hope it encourages you to keep fighting especially as we all struggle to survive this period of the Covid-19 pandemic.

Enjoy!

OjisiEmezie

As a young child approaching her teen, I didn’t understand what it meant to be asthmatic. Initially, I was oblivious of what it was; but, my doctor and parents took me through  the processes and interventions I must take once I had a respiratory discomfort. My inhaler was always with me. I was in the secondary school then and couldn’t tell my mates about my condition because I didn’t want to be discriminated against. Hence, I would always  hide to use my inhaler.

While in High School, I was an athlete and did well in tracks, running the 100m, 200m and 4 × 100m relay races. I represented my sport house during the Annual inter house sports and did well in such outings. Running at the risk of my health was not a concern, I wanted to show my abilities.  

On some occasions, I  have had attacks on the tracks while running. These attacks were severe because they led to me being hospitalized. Few family friends got to know and recommended alternative treatment – traditional medicine. At first we had our doubts about it, but my parents wanted results immediately. The frequent hospitalizations, nocturnal attacks, the pains I went through, the many struggles for my life had tortured my parents and they desperately needed a solution. The traditional approach held no viable results, so we switched back to orthodox medication, where I began to progress in the management of my condition.

Then I got admitted into the University of my dreams. Then, my well managed asthma caved in like a pack of cards. Why? Student life, stress, moving to a new apartment, anxiety among others was key triggers. This was when I was first introduced to a nebuliser. Mother had procured one for me because it became imperative for me to own one at the time . The nebuliser is quite expensive, different from an average inhaler and requires a prescription before usage.

 The nebulizer gave quick relief because the medicine which comes in liquid form but when connected with the machine transforms into vapour and connects directly to the lungs. If I had a mild attack or I sensed the symptoms coming early enough,, then I could nebulise myself without any help; if not I would need help to set the nebuliser up. With the nebulizer, the number of hospitalizations declined. Another inhaler was added to my prescription. At this point I was using inhaled Long Acting Beta Adrenergic Agonist with Corticosteroid and on a daily basis. I resorted to Short Acting Beta Adrenergic Agonist Inhaler whenever I had an attack. I I also use my nebulizer if I’m home (my nebuliser was electric).

I was made to understand that Corticosteroids are my daily meal to keep my airways from getting inflamed. I have I religiously followed up with the prescription and then the frequency of the attacks reduced from weekly to once or twice monthly and later once in 4-6 months. The improvement was tremendous.

In November 2016, something terrible happened. I almost died that day hence, it is one day I won’t forget in a hurry. I was in my room when the attack came, it was severe. My Salbutamol failed me and I ran out of my room asking my friend to blow me air. I was choking and needed to breathe, I kept gasping for air, I felt life slowly ebbing away. Yet my friend would not stop blowing the air and after some minutes of struggle, things normalised. The battle was fierce and in intense, one of the most deadly fifteen minutes I have ever witnessed in my life. I won that battle.

The picture above was taken on the first day of the year 2020. I had Scheduled a shoot days before the end of the previous year and lo, my nightmare came visiting again. I postponed my shoot until I was well. This scene wasn’t planned for till I stepped into the studio and told the photographer we needed to change plans. I wanted to show my strength, my struggle to live, my pain and my miracle.

Since the news of the Covid-19 pandemic, I have been left thinking if the end has come for me. Asthmatics and diabetics are predisposed to the virus (coronavirus). I feared death. At some point I was willing to go run the COVID19 test to know my status. My trigger this time was emotional. I was anxious all the time. I blocked my ears off the NEWS on the number of cases and death tolls. Asthmatics have a low chance of survival because when we fall ill, we do it with gusto.

The nightmares came again during the early weeks of the pandemic. With accompanying pains, it did come and my best weapon to fight it is the nebuliser. One actuation twice daily of Long Acting Beta Adrenergic Agonist and it keeps the nightmare away for months.

Asthmatics know their triggers and this is imperative. Possible triggers are dust, smoke, foul smell, perfume, emotions (excitement, anxiety, sadness), stress, low temperature, Flee from them, this reduces doctor’s appointments and multiple hospitalizations. Also, stay true to your inhalers or Nebulisers, whichever you can afford to buy.

We can live a full, lively and fun life. Know what anti-asthma medication and inhalers works best for you. I am living my life better now because I know how to overcome my nightmares. You can do it.

Stay safe!

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"And that is the reason why this victory is great, because different players have made contributions to the win." Sachin Tendulkar

The rigors of the academic process ensures that the society is enriched with great road maps for future success. It is imperative also, that there be a quantum leap from analysis - paralysis to an even more pragmatic approach that yields tangible success.

In 2015, I was selected to moderate a team of young African scholars on a very touchy issues. These young Africans continue to demonstrate astute knowledge of current trends in political, economic and environmental issues. As Millennials currently in the centre of major discourse especially with regards to the future of work.

Here is Chibueze Ofobuike's account of what happened that day as we deliberated from different parts of Africa, Europe and America.

So, this mind-blowing Team, which I am proud and privileged to be part of, got engaged in the very sensitive issue of Feminism. But this time, in a more intriguing fashion as efforts were made to towards distinguishing when a person crosses the line from becoming a Feminist, to a Feminine, and even to a Womanist.

A lot was learnt!

In the words of Irvine Julia, an incredibly smart Kenyan, 'feminine and feminists seek to be part of the society. They seek to feel involved and be respected as individuals and not just given formal positions or responsibilities for the sake of it'

Do we know that there are types of Feminism? Asked Sweet Youssuf, another smart lady from Northern Ethiopia. I never knew that. But Maalika Kazia, a scintillating Kenyan knows so. She said that some Feminists may be more aggressive than others in the sense that they feel superior to men which is ironic as the whole point of Feminism is to advocate for sole opportunities, respect and treatment for women as is accorded to men. While Kato Gobe , in his ever captivating manner, projected that there are Radical Feminists and Liberal Feminists. The Radicals asks for a radical reordering of the society in every aspect of social life, to eliminate male domination, while those that just seek for equality represent the liberals.

I never knew that women are in the majority in most Countries of Africa. Mervin Thuranira Kilima made me to know that. Sadly, he bemoaned, 'women do not vote for women'. As I am yet to ascertain his claim, I have the very simple perception of this issue. Women deserves to be duly accorded their rights, respects and regards.

Sadly again, many of us pretend to be on the side of the female folks but do not really exhibit that. Little wonder when Samuel Ukey, a rapid growing Nigerian Social blogger, and activist, asked the possibility of someone becoming something and yet does not believe in it., he got a resounding 'Yes, it's possible'.
Maalika, again, posited that some men say they believe in feministic principles yet they find more subtle and indirect ways of exerting superiority.

It is that word, superiority, that rakes up my brain. Why would we think, or believe that we are superior to a gender that have shown strength and capability in all areas of life? Our societies need to get rid of this. It is a very sad scenario to see the male folk misbehaving just because we believe that we are superior. Nonsense!

A young man would walk into a gathering of mixed gender, shake the hands of all the men and wave at the ladies. What does that mean?

The other week, I boarded a taxi and I sat at the back seat between two men. One of them later dropped along the road, and a lady entered at the next stop, and took over his seat while I still maintained my position. The other young man gave me this I-am-disapointed-at-you look, and even had to tell me that I should have stepped down and asked the lady to enter at the middle. I couldn't just imagine our orientation! So it is not right for a woman to stay close to the door in a vehicle while a man stays at the middle? Not for safety purposes, but rather for superiority. I wished I had enough time to talk to him.

Well, for the benefit of the ignorant, women are as important as men. They even do better in many aspects, more than we can. My Father died when I was nine, leaving myself and my seven siblings to the care of my Mother. She made sure we had the warmth, the trainings, and the guardian. She was full of character, mentally and psychologically strong. Myself, and my siblings had the best, solely courtesy of her. How many men can do this?

So guys, instead of struggling with understanding the big grammar of being a Feminist, Feminine or Womanist, getting it right is very simple. Give your wife the space to express herself. Allow your sister to become what her heart yearns for. Respect your boss, who is a woman, as much as you could have respected a man.

They deserve our respect!

Thank you, Mr. Moderator, Chimezie Judemary Udechukwu , Africa is very proud of you.

I must commend Ngozi Emmanuel for inspiring the flow of the debate on that day. She introduced me to the concept of "womanism" and being womanist rather than feminist.

Chibueze Ofobuike also deserves some good accolades for capturing the thoughts of the group so succinctly.

OjisiEmezie