HEPATITIS AND DANCING

Now that I have got your attention. Come with me…
Imagine being the only man in a bevy of ladies… oh sorry, that didn't sound appropriate… women rather, 'mothers' is perfect. So picture a young man dancing round a gathering of these brilliant creatures of the highest order.
Let me take you to the beginning.

The annual meeting of the women of the Anglican Diocese of Kafanchan was to be held sometime in April and I was asked to use the opportunity to speak to the women on any health topic considering most of them came from the rural areas inaccessible to basic health care. I was ecstatic. But then, there was one problem, I had to be in Kano the same day the seminar was to be held.
Hepatitis has been a recurrent disease in my clinic and has claimed and still claims lives through chronic liver failure. A helpless situation that has literally left me depressed most of the time.

I saw this opportunity and thought, hey, this might just be it. Educate one woman and she could help a nation. I had to cancel the trip for this.
The delectable wife of the awesomely contagious Bishop of Kafanchan, bishop Markus Dogo, Mrs Nana Dogo, with her permanently plastered smile that shone like a fluorescent bulb, had invited me.
Ladies and gents, I made the decision to talk at the event on the very day I was to travel. There was no time to prepare.
When I arrived there casually thinking this was just another opportunity to sneak in, talk and sneak out, I was to meet a moment where I had to make up my mind whether to run away or… you know what, let's just cut to the chase.

Nana Gogo first broke the news that I wasn't going to be talking in an enclosure as anticipated, rather I would be talking in the open, with over 1000 women listening in. That wasn't the problem, as a politician, we have learnt the art of addressing public gatherings.
The problem, however, was that when I stood up to talk, I was told they had to welcome me first. A tradition they weren't about to change now because of me. I was like OK, no problem, thank you all, I am welcomed. That wasn't the case though. I was told I would have to dance round the whole crowd!!!!!!!!!!

What?! I knew I wasn't going to dance, I knew it! No one would make me!
After so much staring and convincing I decided to just walk round and try to smile.
But then, Nana would pinch me and say dance na doc, haba na. Kai, I almost entered the ground. Then came her secretary and some other women who continued to urge me on. God, I thought to myself, "why did I come here?"

Well, the director of socials in me was jolted up for a moment. Something that was dormant for a while o, them go look for him trouble.
So I thought to give it to them, just a tinny little bit. Na them beg na… I almost brought the club inside of me to the field but decided otherwise. I remembered Sofa Lounge, Play, Moscow, Beer barn, Bar code and then, I smacked myself back to reality.

It was a beautiful outing and the women, amazing as always, kept the energy going. I loved them. The Gidan Waya ones took over the event as they ensured they gave me a resounding welcome.
On my wedding day, I may not dance but if I do, be sure that na zumuntan Mata dance una go see.
Hepatitis was discussed and many went home with something new about the deadly disease.
The Rural Doctor Initiative… Everyone deserves good health.