The Malaria Menace

[biscuits]

This piece was written on this year’s World Malaria Day (25th April. 2018). Please help with feedback. Thank you.

The Malaria Menace

I felt something graze my skin
Suddenly I hit it with my hands
Throwing my phone to the ground
Then to my ears, I hear a buzz
An utterly displeasing one!
I slapped my self
In a bid to rid this creature

Unknown to me, my skin became bumpy all over
Due to blood sucking choristers
It became red from itching
Sometimes I even let a little blood out
To soothe my skin
Little did I know
That was the least of my worries

A few days later
Only to get some chills and fever
Hiding myself under my bed cover
A throbbing headache like my head
Was a factory for pounding yam
My throat was so sore
More so, I was weak to walk

I was carried to the clinic
Where I was pricked
For parasites of malaria
And I was confirmed positive
My thoughts wandered
To my hatred of medicines
My only hope of getting well

I was given drugs
Artemether and Lumefantrine amongst many others
“Na me go take all this?”
Were my thoughts in the moment
I was advised by the Pharmacist
On the dose of the medication
Then I went home

He also told me
“Use your drugs when due’
‘Use insecticide-treated nets’
‘Fleet your room and cover your water’
I adhered strictly to his advice
Now I have smooth skin
Hear no buzzes and listen to melodious songs

[-brintontaylor]

This is a great poem! It almost tells a small story actually, I like it! Thanks for sharing

[biscuits]

Thanks, I'm glad you liked it! It actually does tell a story of an awful malaria episode.