In the ocean of pain and ill-health was, I, yes among the health keepers, as the stick across my fingers soliloquized; a virus called
SARS-CoV-2 caused COVID-19 they said. But to me she is the challenger of the de- fender of the universe, for the rain of deaths she brought among the peaceful inhabitants of the earth, in the name of a pandemic. A respiratory illness she caused just as her siblings SARS and MERS.
Wuhan was her birth place in China in Decem- ber 2019. Italy, the land of gods, will never for- get her performance. Yes the Europeans, not even the Indians, yes the Asians will not, nor the Australians, the Africans, and the Amer- icans, for the ocean of tears that swallowed her children, as dust returns to dust. Fever, cough, shortness of breath, fatigue, diarrhoea and nausea have been her ways of manifes- tation, lastly is the requiem, for beauty was given to mortals for ashes
From the peak of Mountain Everest to the foot of Mountain Kilimanjaro, the citadel of knowledge has been deserted in all ramifi- cations. All Saints University School of Med- icine, Dominica (ASUSM) wasn’t spared, so also gathering of mortals both of the elites and of the hoi polloi at the four angles of the earth, yet the domain of health were equipped with feeble flesh all for her sake; hence reduc- ing our number as some spirits divorced their flesh and returned to their maker
In the morning of my life, health set to sham- ble ‘cos mortals became lovers of themselves and my nanny alone cared ‘cos she was my caretaker. By noon, health became haphaz- ard ‘cos total health has been substituted for business, for acquisition of wealth was the or- der of the day.
At night, as I grew through the day health was forsaking, the norms and values of life forgot- ten even the doom baby enjoys the privilege which will surely end in futility. In all, my maker made me the promise of ASUSM Now I’m feeble what shall be my pride
And what shall be reason of my existence if I wish to continue the race
Who shall gather my garment of old when am too weak,
Who shall nurse my nature for days of mortals are numbered?
Not just me but the human race as well.
Notwithstanding, hope still alive for my maker made me the promise of ASUSM
Famous was I as death, richer was I as land of forgetfulness, yes more than her, COVID-19. My domain dwelled above the rich and the poor just as the spider’s web
My altars were as strong as the altar of heav- en, my armies stronger than that of termites. Precious stones and gold were my servants
All I possessed but all became an illusion ‘cos no more total health, though mortality is beauty of humanity, happy am I ‘cos here is ASUSM
All Saints University School of Medicine, you are a promise fulfilled
I charge you to rewrite the wrong history of your predecessors and to overthrow the evil child, Covid -19 and her successors for cer- tain they shall be. Now you have held the bull by the horn, yes, you harboured the nursing
and the medical professionals, just for a pur- pose; to bring back the glory of the keeper of health, the defender of the universe, yes, my doctors and my nurses. Yes to bring back the total health of humanity, ‘cos my maker made me promise of ASUSM
Oh thou dazzling damsel dwelling on hilltops of Dominica
Oh thou the altar of different culture yet peo- ple of same destiny I salute for in peace I come. Yes, you teachers of my professionals in ASUSM couple to your great tutoring.
TEACH my doctors and my nurses the strength of information, for that spells their exploit
TEACH them the beauty of being merciful in all seasons, for our world is a small village
TEACH them the power of meekness, for by it their uniqueness is seen
TEACH them the need for accountability in all their services to humanity
TEACH them the way of unity not uniformity, for it is the seal of creation
TEACH them the reason of consistency, for maximum perfection
TEACH them to leave a legacy for unborn generation in all their transactions
TEACH them the joys of accuracy, for by it they are established
TEACH them the gains in tolerance, for it is the soul of true love
TEACH them the source of oasis of continu- ity in season, for by it they can withstand all odds
TEACH them the pride of resuscitation, for that shows their makeup
Although the task is hard, please teach my doctors and my nurses. For they are made in heaven, curdled on earth for nature’s beauty and survival of human race.
- ONYEJI, PAUL C.