Skip to main content

The story of Mana

As related by Terry Sebastian

... Mana, a beautiful young woman draped in an orange cloth and her very tiny baby Fatimat caught my eye. Fatimat was 2 months old and her mother was HIV positive. Mana was kicked out of her house when her husband found out her positive status. She went back to live with her parents and was forbidden to contact her husband again. (He had another wife and at least 4 more children.) She was convinced that her baby was negative for the virus. But when we tested tiny Fatimat, she was positive. Mana seemed OK, but the reality of her emotions showed up at our hotel the next day, and I could see her pain, the fear in her eyes, and I just wanted to hug her, throwing any rules out the window. I felt a deep sense of helplessness for her when she looked at me, and I still do. It is estimated that ten percent of new HIV infections in Nigeria are caused by Mothers breastfeeding their children. Later, I was shocked and disillusioned to learn that men here can acquire as many wives as they can support, and that women here are treated much differently than in the Western world. It is not uncommon for some men to have concubines and wives, raising twenty to thirty children.
YOU CAN
Read more ... or
View ACRT Okene Mission Gallery

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

Ebira Names and their meaning, Names, Meanings, Sex

Asimi: If mankind will allow me the survival of this child. F Ajimituhuo: Spare me today till tomorrow, which day metaphorically continues till eternity (since tomorrow has no end). M Avidime: The initiator who work is subsequently perfected by those following him in life. M Asipita: A child of History. M Amewuru: The harbinger of confusion, or the man who causes chaos. M Adeku: Father of masquerade. M Adabara: Father of the  compound. M Adajinege: The tallest of them. M Adavize: Father is wealth. M Adeiza: Father of fortune/gift/kindness. M Adomuha: Father of able body man. M Adooro: The one that is a stumbling block Ahovi: A chief custodian of the traditional Oracle. M Aduvo: Father of hand. M Ajooze: The one standing on the way. M Adinoyi: The father of the multitude who serves as a protective umbrella shielding others in need of such protection. M Adaviruku: Name usually given to the heir of the family. M Ajinomo: In memory of Ebira war with the Fukanis where Ebi

The case of Ahmed Awela, Murtala (Eti Bobo) among other Ebira youths

Ismail M. Kabir, Lagos. Between controversial existence and a contentious exit. There are various sides to a story. For an event that happens with few or no significant eye witness, the news come in different versions; some partially correct, others completely cooked up. In some cases, such non-witnessed event pass round as rumour until eventually confirmed. Rumour it was, when a phone call from Okene announced the death of two famous Ebira youths! They were killed by the Police, reported the news. Being on a Sunday when nothing too special should ensue save for the usual church services and social functions, the news sounded as the most unexpected, as a matter of fact, incredible! The thought of losing such youths on an ordinary day like Sunday undoubtedly was the reason for the astonishment. Not a single person of Ebira origin, within or outside the soil would believe such shocker upon first hearing. Text messages, phone calls and of course physical enquiries lingered, all in an atte

Eyire Clan Fully Backs Alhaji Usman Ahmed Ododo for Governor

Gov. Yahaya Bello blessing Hon. Usman Ahmed Ododo's Candidacy The emergence of Alhaji Usman Ahmed Ododo has been greatly lauded by the entire Eyire clan in EbiraLand. Hon. Ahmed Usman Ododo, Kogi APC Guber candidate  It was a moment of camaraderie and total expression of allegiance to the Gubernatorial candidate of the APC, Ododo by the entire Eyire clan on Sunday, April 16, 2023, led by their respected Kinsman, Ambassador Isyaka Usman (Akanson) and other stakeholders. Amb. Isyaka Usman (Akanson) addressing Eyire Clan delegation  The unprecedented decision was taken at a high-powered peace and reconciliation meeting involving the leadership of the clan, traditional rulers, opinion leaders, and other stakeholders of the clan. The meeting took place at the palace of Ohiopisa Eyire Alhaji Okeji, at the instance of Alhaji Jubril Momoh, the Accountant General of Kogi State who in his wisdom and cooperative dispositions sent some emissaries to his kins