TELL Magazine

Patrick Ochoga, Edo State correspondent of the Leadership newspaper, has appealed to Nigerians to take the guidelines and protocols as prescribed by the Presidential Task Force (PTF) on COVID-19 seriously. Ochoga, who just survived the disease, said his appeal became necessary as a result of the nonchalant attitude of many Nigerians towards the pandemic.

The journalist who admitted he owed his survival to the prompt attention by medical personnel at the facility provided at the state-owned Stella Obasanjo Specialist Hospital in Benin, explained that like many others who see the disease as a joke, he never knew he was down with the virus until he decided to take the test after a prolonged headache and running of temperature.

According to him, “the virus is real as warned severally by the PTF. Even with their repeated advice, I didn’t take them seriously just like many Nigerians. I was actually sick, very sick for days, and I went to my doctor who carried out tests and I was diagnosed with typhoid and malaria. Because of the seriousness, I was admitted for a night and I took over several injections within a space of less than 48 hours. However, the ailment persisted even with the treatment, including drips. It was then I took the decision to go for COVID-19 test”.

Ochoga further explained that “Upon my explanation to the doctor the symptoms I was having, he gave me some drugs after the test. Behold, the first time I took the drugs given to me at the center, I actually regained myself. In essence, what I am saying is that the disease is not a death sentence; it is good you know your status once you have the symptoms so that you can be treated quickly”.