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Onaoluwa
Onaoluwa
Abimbola
Until every country has won the battle against preventable infectious diseases like Malaria, no one is safe.
@ Gates Archive/Jonathan Torgovnik
Onaoluwa
Abimbola
Until every country has won the battle against preventable infectious diseases like Malaria, no one is safe.
Onaoluwa's Story
I contracted cerebral malaria which turned my life upside down. I now work as a medical laboratory scientist ensuring accurate diagnosis of diseases at Ifo General Hospital in Ogun State.
In 2013, I was travelling to Owo in Ondo State from a short trip in Asaba in Delta State when I began to feel feverish and unwell. Conscious of the cost of medical attention, I put off going to the hospital, but by the morning, I was delirious and had no idea where I was. I was rushed to hospital, where I was wrongly diagnosed as suffering from psychosis, and admitted to the psychiatric ward. The actual cause of my illness – cerebral malaria – went untreated for three days. I lost a year of my life recovering, including losing my place in the National Youth Service Corps of Nigeria until 2015.
Until every country has won the battle against preventable infectious diseases like Malaria, no one is safe.
Once the underlying cause of my illness had been identified and treated, I began the long road to recovery, tackling both the physical and mental effects of the disease. The impact on my mental health inspired me to write a book, ‘From depression to hope’, to support and inspire others. Motivated by my experience, I work to help diagnose communicable diseases and I periodically conduct community-wide health assessments and education sessions.
Aware that many are not as lucky as I was, and cognizant of the burden of malaria in Nigeria and across Africa, I am determined to play a role in achieving SDG 3- ensuring healthcare access for all.
@ Gates Archive/Jonathan Torgovnik
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@ Gates Archive/Jonathan Torgovnik
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