One night stand
By JOSSY DAM
Saturday,
September 23, 2006
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•Maureen
Dashe
•Photo: Sun News Publishing
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Maureen Dashe, 26 led a quite life in her Langtan village,
Plateau State until December 2005. She had her own shop and
made a decent living as seamstress.
She was just going to see a friend in her neighbourhood, when
a man in white Mercedes car beckoned on her. The man toasted
her and sweet-talked her into hopping into his car for a joy
ride around the town.
Strange type
Maureen did not only cruise around with the stranger, she
fell under his spell and even slept with him that same day.
The man kept on dropping by for a while. But shortly after,
Maureen took in. Her health nosed-dived and it was as though
she would die.
Hanging tough
She, however, clung to life. After series of test, she tested
HIV positive. She lost her shop and all she had toiled for.
An aunt of her’s took her to a herbalist home where
she stayed for six months without any sign of improvement.
When her condition became unbearable, her aunt threw her out.
She roamed about without shelter until a friend came to her
rescue by bringing her to Mashiah Foundation.
Splintered life
Though from a poor background, comfort Haruna was a hard working
student.
After clinching a diploma in public Administration, Kaduna
State polytechnic. She secured another admission in 2004 to
read business Administration at Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria,
Kaduna State.
Strange ailment
At first, she began to experience weakness of the body, pile,
cough, malaria, typhoid. She later went to Ahamadu Bello University
teaching hospital, Zaria, where she tested HIV positive.
An aunt of her’s in Jos, Ladi took her in. Aware of
her HIV status, she took her to Plateau State Specialist Hospital.
According to her, the medics there, told her that her blood
level was too low and declined giving her ARV drugs until
it improved. A while later, her condition worsened and the
hospital admitted her for three months.
While there, the matron of the hospital referred her to Mashia
foundation. Draped in winter jacket a top blouse, wrapper
and head tie, and looking really downcast, Comfort told Saturday
Sun that she is feeling a lot better than in March when tested
positive. “I still feel cold inside but I can now eat
and even take the AVR drugs. My blood level has improved,”
she said with a wane smile.
Asked how she got the dreaded virus, she said she suspects
her boyfriend whom she declined to mention his name.
“ He is the only one that I ever made love to,”
she revealed.
She is worried about her health and whether she would ever
get well and go back to school.
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