It was a cloudy afternoon on the 8th of October 2021 in Makurdi, Benue state, when Mbaiorga Winifred had just stepped out of her makeshift home. The previous night’s heavy rain had dismantled her makeshift home, a series of mosquito nets combined in a “cave-like form” to provide shelter for her and her five children. “I was busy fixing my “Ihia-wam”- all through the day after being drenched the previous night. The weather was not my challenge.” Mbaiorga said. “Ihia-wam” means “my house” in the Tiv language. She continued, “But I became terrified when I saw the cloud forming again. I knew my family, and I would be drenched again later that night.” Since the incident, life has never been easy for Mbaiorga and her family. A few years ago, she could do menial jobs at the camp to fend for his children, but her strength has failed her. “Since October, I have been feeling a very sharp headache coupled with general weakness of the body. Worse still, I began emaciating, and my body worsens daily.” Mbaiorga could not access any hospital even when some mobile health workers privately told her that she could have type II diabetes. The Back […]
