COVID-19 Survivor, AbdulGaniyu Yusuf Who Spent 20 Days In Isolation Centre Shares His Experience To Warn Nigerians Who Still Doubt The Existence Of The Virus
It’s always exciting news when we hear stories of people surviving the dreaded coronavirus, it’s also sad that many lives have been claimed from this same virus, yet, many Nigerians still think that the virus is a scam. One survivor, AbdulGaniyu Yusuf, feels the need to change that by sharing his story.
After surviving COVID-19, Kwara State Mr. AbdulGaniyu Yusuf, has advised people to always adhere to the COVID-19 preventive measures, stressing that the disease is real. The survivor gave the advice in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria in Ilorin. He said,
“COVID-19 is real because I contracted the disease. I was taken to the Sobi Isolation Centre in Ilorin.”
During the interview, Mr Yusuf who spent twenty days in an isolation centre in Ilorin, Kwara state, where he received medical attention from health workers, warned people who still doubt the existence of the dreaded virus that he witnessed people dying of the disease. According to him,
“I went for COVID-19 test after people in my house became sick with the disease. The test came out positive and I was taken to the isolation centre.
“While at the centre, I was terrified because I saw people who died and were taken to the mortuary. I must confess that it was a terrifying experience because I lived with the fear that I may not get out alive.”
he explained that he had never doubted the existence of the contagion, wondering why people would doubt what they have no knowledge of.
Relating his experience further, the survivor said that his symptoms were mild and he was not placed on oxygen like some patients.
He added that the healthcare providers were understanding, even when some patients became agitated and rude.
“Throughout my stay at the isolation centre, there was 24-hour provision of electricity and we had hot water whenever we required. The government tried its best for us,”
he said, noting that symptoms of the disease included fever, cough, loss of taste and difficulty in breathing.
The World Health Organisation has taken notice of his survival.
“I was recently appointed by the World Health Organisation COVID-19 Hero and Survivor Initiative to testify that the pandemic is real and that people must take precautionary measures to avoid it,”
Yusuf said.
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He advised people to always wear face masks, wash their hands regularly with soap and water and avoid large gathering.
Yusuf also appealed to people not to stigmatise survivors of COVID-19.