The Horendous moment

The story of Medline Rubaba By Angeline Zimbwani Mikiri As I prepared for my daily schedule working from home and as I peeped on my messages I saw this message, ‘my sister I have been tested positive for covid but with no symptoms at all.’ I could not believe what I heard, an ever smiling Rubaba who resides in Mucheke Township in Masvingo, The Southern Province of Zimbabwe narrated her ordeal to me. ‘I was just feeling funny and I decided that I should just go and get tested’. Medline’s story is one of the millions stories we hear every day. ‘To my surprise I did the PCR test and it came out positive. I was short of words. I said to myself, what will I say to my kids, how will I explain it to my kids that I am covid virus positive. I was put on a treatment and after that I started taking some home remedies like grated red onion, boiled lemon mixed with honey and ginger, I would also boil Zumbani’. Rubaba a teacher by profession lamented that, ‘the challenge with the virus is that one would not know how you contracted the virus and when you got it, to the extent that you can go for days without knowing you have the virus and not showing symptoms thereby infecting others especially if people are not taking measures’. Medline’s story is an example of many stories we hear and experience every day, it has become the order of the day in our lives, we now live in a situation where we hear of statistics rising every minute around the world. The covid 19 pandemic has left communities in tears. ‘I discovered that I no longer had the sense of taste followed by no appetite, a terrible headache, fever, pneumonia, extreme fatigue, difficulty in breathing, nausea and vomiting with pain in lower back but I wasn’t sneezing nor coughing. To me the disease did not come as flue, like what happens normally. I felt like I was on the verge of death because of my difficulty in breathing. The fatigue and weakness in me made it difficult for me even to bath or do anything. I also use vitamin b and c tablets and it’s been working well;.Rubaba bemoaned that, ‘the other thing affecting people who are infected is stigma. When you come out in the open and tell people that you are covid 19 positive that is when problems start, and I guess it’s because people are afraid of being infected. People would rather avoid you that comfort you. I also urge covid patients to ignore the people because sometimes it’s not their fault since they will be afraid to be infected with the virus. As a people we must remove fear and begin to help each other whenever we can. The unfortunate thing is that the medical aid does not cover the covid 19 patients which makes it difficult for the majority to get tested. They need cash upfront for testing’ Medline encourages people to stay at home and avoid contact with people, practise social and physical distance, wearing of masks and sanitise their hands. They should also come up with ways to entertain them at all cost so that they do not think too much about what they are going through.’ ‘Now I have recovered but it has not been easy. People should eat properly and take home remedies more often.” She concludes According to World Health Organization, people should stay safe by taking some simple precautions, such as physical distancing, wearing a mask, keeping rooms well ventilated, avoiding crowds, cleaning your hands, and coughing into a bent elbow or tissue. Check local advice where you live and work. Maintain at least a 1-metre distance between yourself and others to reduce your risk of infection when you cough, sneeze or speak. Maintain an even greater distance between yourself and others when indoors. The further away, the better. Make wearing a mask a normal part of being around other people. The appropriate use, storage and cleaning or disposal are essential to make masks as effective as possible.