The Malaria Menace
Posted: 03 Jun 2018, 03:09
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
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