Once upon a time Ayo Bakare befriended me in an email and asked me to look at his regarded One Act Play about the need for screens in Africa to keep out bacterial infections. Well, he's also associated with this school and seams to have done quite well with his life, and wife and kids, in Nigeria. Despite my inability to network his cause to come to the United Stats. Something how on the ground-up level Ayo is firming up child education. In America so many ways have been designed to shrivel money we overpaid ourselves devaluing the worth of the penny. Why Mr. Bakare's successes are as important to understand, that aim should be for the achievable one step at a time. And not resenting the leap forward that a US placement meant at that time. Now literature under his belt etc., his speaking anywhere in the world has a resonance local businesses should have all by themselves as well.
Maidas-Torch Global Schools, Ibadan, Nigeria
THE AFTERMATH OF RESISTANCE
By Ayo Bakare
Introduction Letter from Ayo to Charles M. Fraser
The resistance against the administration of the anti-polio vaccine to young children to combat polio and other sister diseases in the northern part of Nigeria and other places is a topic worthy of being tactically treated.
Many parents, out of the reduced level of exposure, see the free polio vaccination programme as an orchestration of the government to intrude into their highly cherished privacy. They do not want either their children or wives to be associated with any aspect of modern civilization. Though this is gradually changing, we still have more defaulters than loyalists to the modern trend. The purpose of this play THE AFTERMATH OF RESISTANCE is to examine the likely result of the resistance of some parents in the northern part of Nigeria towards the administration of vaccine to their children.
Thanks
Ayo Bakare
(insert commas above)
, out of the reduced level of exposure,
Capital letters used for corrections
My corrections are American grammar as I notice you have a different way of speaking that might be better. So any correction is only a suggestion.
A short play
‘’ THE AFTERMATH OF RESISTANCE’’
CAST
ALHAJI HARUNA, Man of the house
HAJIA SELIMAT, his first wife
ALHAJA MABARUKA, his second wife
NANA AISHAT, HAJIA SELIMAT, daughter
CORPER IBRAHIM
ABDULAHI, ALHAJA MABARUKA’S first son
DOCTOR TESLIM
HASSAN, one of the Anti-polio administration officials
SCENE ONE
Early In The Morning.
Light comes up revealing the roundly fenced bungalow of ALHAJI HARUNA, an epitome of Islamic faithful as he is dressed in his ‘’Jalamia’’ gown with a small cap shaped TO his head. He is first seen opening his tightly constructed window from outside. Then his first wife, HAJIA SELIMAT, who in turn is in purdah, comes around kneeling down to greet.
HAJIA SELIMAT: [as she meets her husband] “Barka da asuba Mai Gida”!
ALIHAJI HARUNA: [warmly] Barka dai An tashi lafiya? Hope you woke up well? We thank God.
HAJIA SELIMAT: “Lafia kalau.” IT WAS SO cold during the night.
ALHAJI HARUNA: “Walai,” Hajia Selimat. THAT is why I am trying to see how I can block the window permanently.
HAJIA SELIMAT: It’s good like that.
ALHAJI HARUNA: Hope Alhaja Mabaruka and Abdulahi are awake?
HAJIA SELIMAT: No, “Mei gida”, they are not. Abdulahi cried of muscle crampS till about 4am this morning. That alone may elongate their sleeping period.
ALHAJI HARUNA: [pitifully] Allah Seriki, and I did not know anything.
HAJIA SELIMAT: You know you did not sleep here, you only came back early this morning from our co-wiFe.
ALHIJI HARUNA: Yes. Why I am even asking after her to know if the boy I sent to bring the food stuffs I bought from the market HAS delivered them to her. ( not TO YOU because Hajia says yes?)
HAJIA SELIMAT: Yes. He did. Thank you, Mai Gida.
ALHAJI HARUNA: No problem. I shall sleep with my last wife tonight in Karuma. Walahi, she has been complaining about my absence from her place for AT LEAST three days now. (people in Nigeria say like?)
HAJIA SELIMAT: Dan Allah, I beg, Alhaji. Please stay here with us for this night especially because of your son Abdulahi WHO is not feeling fine.
ALHAJI HARUNA: [angrily] What is your wahala, Selimat? Is Abdulahi my only son? I must take care of others too. I have been constant in this house for two weeks and you have never appreciated me for that.
HAJIA SELIMAT: [kneeling down as she begs] I am sorry, Alhaji. I just thought it will be better if we take care of the little boy together.
ALHAJI HARUNA: [warmly] No ‘’problem’’ walahi. Me I just need you to understand that when compared to other men around here, I am trying my best. I am at least attending to the three wives I have.
HAJIA SELIMAT: Yes, you are trying.
ALHAJI HARUNA: Now concerning the boy, I will inform my doctor friend, Alhaji Nasir, and as soon as he is back from Kano, he will come here to take care of him. Make sure you place the boy on a rest cure for now.
HAJIASELIMAT: We will do that.
ALHAJI HARUNA: Then go in and get my bag for me as I go to Kuruma to see my last wife.
HAJIA SELIMAT: [snidely] Help us greet her when you get there.
ALHAJI HARUNA: [comically] You have started your wayo again. Get me my bag and let me leave.
[Light turns down]
SCENE TWO
Toward The Afternoon
Light comes up revealing the verandah of Alhaji Haruna. His second wife Alhaja Mabaruka in purdah and her one year old sickly looking son, Abdulahi, are seen seated on a long bench as she caresses him warmly.
ALHAJA MABARUKA: Walahi Abdulahi, you will survive this. You will get better as soon as your father’s friend returns and administerS drugs to you. BECAUSE I have no money on me, please help me by recovering quickly. A woman in purdah like me has no access to work. I am only to stay at home to cook and take care of the fundamental house chores. I just pray you survive this stage and grow up so you can be enrolled in Arabic School like the rest of your father’s children. That is where you shall be taught how to respect a woman, provide for her and make her worthy in the worship of Allah.
In a short while, a fourteen year old girl, Nana Aishat, the daughter of Hajia Selimat returns back from school with a small traveler’s beg.”
NANA AISHAT: [kneeling as she meets her] Good day ma!
ALHAJA MABARUKA: Barkada zu,wa. You are welcome, Nana Ayisat. How is school?
NANA AISHAT: Lafiya lau. We thank God, ma. They gave us A sala break today.
ALHAJA MABARUKA: WHY I was asking. It’s good. We will all celebrate together in this house. Your father is also planning to bring all of you, his children, under this roof for the purpose of this celebration.
NANA AISHAT: I will be glad to see them. [Noticing the sickly looking Abdulahi] What happened to him, mama?
ALHAJI MABARUKA: He has been down with so many things including and not limited to a weak spine and severe Headache.
NANA AISHAT: [pitifully] Allah Seriki! And what have you given to him?
ALHAJA MABARUKA: Many things Nana Aishat. We are now waiting for your father’s friend Alhaji Nasir for proper medical attention.
NANA AISHAT: No problem; but hope that will not be late. If not because our belief does not accept it. Back in the school we were educated last week that the anti-polio vaccines given to children within the age of Abdulahi can reduce some of the body ailment.
ALHAJA MABARUKA: [cuts in harshly] Wayyo Allah. Stop it, Nana Aishat. Don’t ever allow your father to hear this from you. He may, because of it, stop you from going back to that school where they value science more than our own beliefS. Let me start THERE. Do you think any of you, our children, WERE born in any other hospital than that of Alhaji Nasir? Let me tell you, your father cannot stand the shame of allowing any other man TO look into the privacy of his wives. If not because he was educated a little bit, do you think he would ever employ the service of any medical practitioner? Do not talk about anti-polio vaccine or those who are administering them. As old as you are you never took any, and here you are strong and bouncing and will soon finish your secondary education and get married. If I am not mistakEN, you are in SS1 now and fifteen years of age?
NANA AISHAT: [promptly] Yes.
ALHAJA MABARUKA: You may not even need to finish your education if Taofeek says he is ready for you.
NANA AISHAT: [smiling] Yes. Girls not even up to my age are getting married.
ALHAJA MABARUKA: What are you saying? I was exactly at your age when I GOT married to your father. Don’t you see how tall Ibrahim my first born is? I am just fourteen years older than him and I have BEEN married TO your father now for ten years. Let me tell you that except IN extreme circumstances, we don’t visit the hospital whenever any of you fall sick. “Fura de nunu” our multipurpose healing milk is a force to reckon with. Or do you not see HOW FIT AND ENERGETIC some of our Fulani brethren are in the sheds WHERE they live even in the face of extremely cold weather during harmattan?
NANA AISHAT: I know. In fact, if not because I understand some of the things you are telling me now I would have been cajoled like some of my school mates were when the talk was going on.
ALHAJA MABARUKA: Ha! Don’t allow anyone of THEM to deceive you.
NANA AISHAT: I will not. Thank you mama. Where is my mother?
ALHAJA MABARUKA: She went to see Hajia Kudirat. She should be back soon. Or better still, go in and bring my phone so I can call her for you.
NANA AISHAT: Ok [she walks in; then THE light turns down].
SCENE THREE
Next Morning
Light comes up revealing Alhaji Haruna carrying a traveller’s bag as he approaches his house.
As he meets the gate, he knocks lightly.
ALHAJI HARUNA: [knocking at the door] Assalam Alaikum!
NANA AISHAT: [from inside as she covers her head with hijab and kneeling to great her father] You are welcome, father.
ALHAJI HARUNA: [with surprise] When DID you return from school?
NANA AISHAT: Yesterday. We have been given A break for Sala celebration.
ALHAJI HARUNA: [warmly] That’s fine. I am coming from my new “Amaria”. I slept at her place overnight.
NANA AISHAT: [as she collects the bag] That’s good. How is she?
ALHAJI: She is fine. She even desires to pack to the house, but I say no. That cannot happen. I don’t want any trouble in my house.
NANA AISHAT: (silently) Let’s secretly talk about it outside here, father. Let me advise you. Since marrying more than one woman is accepted in our custom, bring aunty Hauwa, your new wife home so we can all enjoy you to a greater extent. My mother and Alhaja Mabaruka understand things like this. NEITHER of the two of them will disagree with you. Remember you have to pay for her house rent outside; she will also be clothed and fed. Think about all that, father, and how you could cut down your expenses. You know you useD to advise me too.
ALHAJI HARUNA: (smiling) Yes, Nana Aishat. I, Alhaji Haruna will look into your advice and get back to you with a positive response. But as usual, keep this one safe in your heart.
NANA AISHAT: No problem. Don’t worry Alhaji.
ALHAJI HARUNA: Ok. Let’s go in (both walk in as light turns down)
SCENE FOUR
Towards The Afternoon
Light comes up revealing the shop of Alhaji Haruna where he sells sandals of different shapes and sizes. He is seen preparing his wares for SALE.
ALHAJI HARUNA: (saying some casual prayers) Yah Allah! Please help me to make sales today. I would have missed some customers because of my journey to Kano today. Well, I travelled because of a very important thing.
“In a short while, Ibrahim, a fully kitted Corper comes around”
CORPER IBRAHIM: (warmly as he enters fully) Assalam Alaikum!
ALHAJI HARUNA: (warmly) Wa Alaykum Salam. You are welcome to my shop, “Kofa”.
CORPER IBRAHIM: Thank you. I am IBRAHIM and I was sent to you from your friend, Alhaji Nasir. I am a new Corper posted to Gwiwa Local Government here. I am from Gombe State.
ALHAJI HARUNA: You are welcome.
IBRAHIM: Sir, I couldn’t get a place to stay that’s why he asked me to come to you.
ALHAJI HARUNA: No problem. He has called me this morning. How do you know him?
CORPER IBRAHIM: He worked with my father when posted to Gombe State.
ALHAJI HARUNA: (smiling) Just to confirm. He told me all that. The only problem is that my own apartment is fully occupied. But I will give you a room next to my house, it belongs to my mother.
CORPER IBRAHIM: It’s appreciated, Sir. Thank you.
ALHAJI HARUNA: How are your family members?
CORPER IBRAHIM: They are fine, Alhaji.
ALHAJI HARUNA: What WOULD you like to eat now before I take you Home?
IBRAHIM: I have eaten, but if I HAVE some cow milk, “fura de nunu” I will appreciate it.
ALHAJI HARUNA: No problem, or won’t you mind to stay with me in the shop. It’s only my wives and children that are at home.
CORPER IBRAHIM: (snidely) No problem. Let me stay with you in the shop.
ALHAJI HARUNA: (gladly) “Senk” you. You understand me. Let me get you the local milk first. Then I will ask the food seller to get me rice for you. Is that alright?
CORPER IBRAHIM: It’s alright, Sir.
ALHAJI HARUNA: (as he walks out) Am coming.
CORPER IBRAHIM: Ok, Sir.
(Light turns down gently)
SCENE FIVE
Three Days Later, Towards The Night
Light comes up revealing the household of Alhaji Haruna. Hajia Selimat, Corper Ibrahim, Alhaja Mabaruka and Nana Aishat are all present at the veranda.
ALHAJA MABARUKA: (warmly) It is good to know that you are from Gombe State, Corper Ibrahim. Do you know I have never been there before?
CORPER IBRAHIM: Allah Seriki! Our place is just as pleasant as this place.
ALHAJA MABARUKA: Thank you.
HAJIA SELIMAT: I remember one “Kofa” who left here a year ago. He too was friendly just like you. Within three days of your arrival, you have associated yourself with us very well.
CORPER IBRAHIM: (smiling) That’s the essence of man, Hajia. We really need to associate with the people in our environment.
NANA AISHAT: It is not like that everywhere, Corper Ibrahim. The Corpers posted to our school are all proud. They will not greet you except you greet them, and when you ask why, they will tell you that we students are disrespectful, and that we may take them for granted if they get too close to us.
CORPER IBRAHIM: (laughing) That’s not true.
NANA AISHAT: Really? What do you think about it?
CORPER IBRAHIM: Nana Aishat, if you place yourself well as an elder, no one will disrespect you.
ALHAJA MABARUKA: That is true, but it’s a pity many do not understand that.
“In a short while, there comes a series of knock at the gate”.
HAJIA SELIMAT: Nana Aishat, check who is at the gate.
“Nana Aishat stands and walks towards the gate”
NANA AISHAT: (warmly) Who is there?
MR. HASSAN: (from outside) I am Mr. Hassan from the anti-polio administration’s office. We are in your environment to administer the anti–polio vaccine to the children in various houses.
NANA AISHAT: Wait, am coming. (She walks back to her mother). Mother! It is the anti – polio official.
ALHAJA MABARUKA: (loudly) Send him or her away; now. Haram! Do we ask them to immunize our children? They want to use this silly tactics to expose our children to this perverted way of life ruling now in our society.
HAJIA SELIMAT: (standing up angrily) What an insult. They will not go around sharing the national cake. They are here now sharing a vaccine that will kill the immune system of our children. (facing the audience) Tell me what their vaccines will do that our own great “fura de nunu “will not do? Ask him to go away, else, I will call Alhaji and implicate the person. Nana Aishat, is the person even a man or a woman?
NANA AISHAT: (promptly) A man.
ALHAJA MABARUKA (snidely) That is so good. We all will ask him what he is doing in the house of women in purdah uninvited. The Emir and the Seriki’s will hear about it and justify us.
CORPER IBRAHIM: (warmly as he stands to meet Alhaja Mabaruka) Alhaja, this man has not come to do us any evil. Infact, he should be well entertained after being allowed to administer the vaccine to the children.
HAJIA SELIMAT: (angrily) Allah Seriki! What a misconception. I don’t know you could be this cheap, Corper. After spending so many years in the university, you have allowed yourself to be brainwashed. All our innate ideas no longer occupy your heart. Nana Aishat, send them away immediately.
NANA AISHAT: (as she approaches the gate) Ok; mother.
ALHAJA MABARUKA: (harshly) Corper Ibrahim, if you still want to retain your accommodation with us, you had better not talk about this to Alhaji Haruna. It will make him pounce on you and send you away without looking back.
CORPER IBRAHIM: (sadly) I am sorry, Alhaja. I will not talk about it again.
HAJIA SELIMAT: You had better not (she hisses and light turns down gently).
SCENE SIX
Light comes up revealing the shop of Alhaji Haruna. Nana Aishat is seen sitting down ready to attend to customers.
In a short while, Corper Ibrahim comes around.
NANA AISHAT: (kneeling as she sees Ibrahim) You are welcome, Corper Ibrahim.
CORPER IBRAHIM: Thank you, how is Alhaji?
NANA AISHAT: He has travelled to Kano to settle some political issues.
CORPER IBRAHIM: (smiling) Alhaji and Politics.
NANA AISHAT: He loves politics so much. He may soon be appointed to a political seat soon, according to him.
CORPER IBRAHIM: I pray so. May Allah grant all our desires.
NANA AISHAT: Amin. Corper Ibrahim, I have been looking for a chance like this to talk to you about the anti-polio vaccine that my parents detest. I and my other mates in school were educated in school on the benefit of administering the anti-polio vaccine to the children. Please tell me more about this thing and what you feel about it.
CORPER IBRAHIM (smiling) Let me start by telling you that it is because the adults in our environment are not ready to hear anything regarding this issue, that is why they have decided to go round to schools to educate upcoming generation which you are part of. See, Nana Aishat, we need this anti-polio vaccine mostly so as to combat the delicate diseases flying around both in the air and water in our environment. Any child who receives this vaccine has been immunized against the polio disease.
Polio is a disease caused by a virus. It usually enters into the body through the mouth. It sometimes causes paralysis, the inability to move arm or leg. It can kill by paralyzing the muscles that aids breath.
NANA AISHAT: (sadly) Allah Seriki! This is very sad.
CORPER IBRAHIM: You have not heard anything, Nana Aishat. The first anti-polio vaccine was developed by Jonas Salk and first put to test in 1952. It was later announced to the world by Dr. Thomas Francis Junior on April, 12 1955. It consists of an injected dose of “inactivated polio virus vaccine”.
NANA AISHAT: (smiling) Corper Ibrahim, how do you know all these?
CORPER IBRAHIM: Am coming, Nana Aishat. Generaly, vaccination works by increasing the immune system with an immunogen, stimulating immune response through the use of an infectious agent. Do not sleep Nana Aishat!
NANA AISHAT: (smiling) I can’t sleep now, Corper Ibrahim.
CORPER IBRAHIM: The development of immunity to polio perfectly blocks the transmission of wild polio virus. This will protect both the individual vaccine recipients and the wider community. The inactivated poliovirus vaccine is a shot given in the leg or arm depending on age. It may be given at the same time as other vaccines. Children at two months get a dose. A dose at four months, a dose at six to eighteen months and a booster dose at four to six years of age. And children who are seriously sick may be left until they are well.
NANA AISHAT: (clapping) Doctor Ibrahim! Those who came to our school did not even explain up to this level. But please tell me how you know all of this.
CORPER IBRAHIM: I read medicine from the University of Lagos and coming for my NYSC in this state, I have joined the anti-polio team.
NANA AISHAT: Am happy for you, Corper Ibrahim. It means your wife will enjoy you.
CORPER IBRAHIM: Yes, you are right.
NANA AISHAT: How do I convince my parents about the goodness of this anti-polio vaccine? They are just too rigid with our usual practice.
CORPER IBRAHIM: We will not have to rush them; gradually we will let them know the truth about the issue.
NANA AISHAT: (sadly) And I did not receive that immunization. Hope I am not at the danger of contracting the polio disease?
CORPER IBRAHIM: I can’t say for now, but there is still hope for you if you are interested…………
NANA AISHAT: (cuts in) I am interested. How do I get myself immunized?
CORPER IBRAHIM: (smiling) According to the anti-polio immunization ethics, those who have never been vaccinated against polio should get three doses of IPV; two doses separated by one to two months, and a third dose should come six to twelve months after the second. Those who have had one or two doses of polio vaccine in the past should get the remaining one or two doses. It doesn’t mean how long it has been since the earlier doses. Then those who have had three or more doses in the past may get a booster dose of IPV. Doctors can help in guiding such administration.
NANA AISHAT: Then how can you help me out, Corper Ibrahim?
CORPER IBRAHIM: You will give me the address of your school and I will tell our leader who will in turn allocate a team of vaccine administrators to your school.
NANA AISHAT: (happily) Thank you. What about my mother and Alhaja Mabaruka, will their age not discourage their chances of being immunized?
CORPER IBRAHIM: No, they can still be immunized too. The only set of people that should not get the IPV are people with a life threatening allergy to any component of IPV including the antibiotics neomycin, streptomycin or polymyxin B. They should not get polio vaccine. Also, anyone who had a severe allergic reaction to a previous polio shot should not get another one. That is why it is necessary to inform the doctor if you want to be immunized as an adult so as to know if one have allergy to the polio shot.
NANA AISHAT: (happily) Thank you very much, Corper. Do you know something?
CORPER IBRAHIM: What?
NANA AISHAT: (smiling) I recorded your message on the anti-polio immunization vaccine. I will hear it over and over. But I promise not to allow it leak out to the hearing of my parents for now.
CORPER IBRAHIM: (surprisingly) You mean it?
NANA AISHAT: Yes, Sir.
(Light turns down)
SCENE SEVEN
Light comes up revealing the compound of Alhaji Haruna.
Specifically at the veranda, Alhaji Haruna and Corper Ibrahim are seen coming out of the house as they finally settle on a bench at the veranda.
ALHAJI HARUNA: Thank you, “Kofa” Ibrahim. I least expected that I would become a Local Government Secretary. I was getting tired of all the documentation and the unending travels to Kano almost every day. I am the latest Secretary to Gwiwa Local Government.
CORPER IBRAHIM: (smiling) I am happy for you, Alhaji. Many more of this kind of appointment by the grace of Allah!
ALHAJI HARUNA: Amin! How is your work?
CORPER IBRAHIM: We thank God. The people of Gwiwa here are so loving. I have been enjoying them.
ALHAJI HARUNA: I saw some of your members today across the village trying to administer the anti-polio vaccine and I instigated the people to molest them. Make sure you don’t join them in that act.
CORPER IBRAHIM: (snidely) I will not. But why do you dislike them, Alhaji?
ALHAJI HARUNA: They are nothing less than intruders who love delving into other people’s privacy.
CORPER IBRAHIM: (intelligently) I used to think they are trying to save our children from future attacks.
ALHAJI HARUNA: That is only a sentiment. An excuse that lacks values. It is Allah that takes care of the children. In fact, do you not see the “Almajiris’? Some of them are only going from house to house begging for food in order to survive. Do you expect such children and their parents to think about anything like anti-polio vaccine? If not for the exposure that I have, do you think I will not allow my children to go into such?
CORPER IBRAHIM: (snidely) You are correct, Alhaji. But I used to pity some of the crippled children and others with one kind of deformity or the other. Only Allah knows what could cause it?
ALHAJI HARUNA: I will answer you by saying that it is wrong to say that we have crippled children here. I will not pretend I don’t know, but I will let you know we have them throughout this country. To me personally I think it is the weather that causes all of that.
CORPER IBRAHIM: No Alhaji. I know some of the things that could cause it.
ALHAJI HARUNA: [warmly] Then tell me, Corper Ibrahim. I want to know too. [Nana Aishat walks out and meet her father kneeling down]
NANA AISHAT: [to Alhaji Haruna] Your food is ready, Baba.
ALHAJI HARUNA: I am coming. Corper Ibrahim, let’s go in and eat and then we will continue with our discussion afterwards.
CORPER IBRAHIM: [as he stands up] Ok, Sir.
ALHAJI HARUNA: [as he begin to walk in with Nana Aishat] Let’s go in, Corper Ibrahim.
[Light turns down as they all walk in]
SCENE EIGHT
Light comes up revealing Corper Ibrahim, Haija Selimat and Nana Aishat at the veranda as they playfully discuss.
CORPER IBRAHIM: I don’t know you are this shy, Nana Aishat. So, you could not face the crowd when called upon to represent your house in the inter house competition?
NANA AISHAT: Yes. I felt like the ground would open and swallow me as I saw many students sitting in front of me. I thought I cannot say anything that will interest them.
HAIJA SELIMAT: Don’t mind Nana Aishat, she would have been a bold girl by now if she was not used to rejecting every opportunity to express herself in the Arabic School. Though she has what it takes to express herself brilliantly, but she just would not make use of her brilliant prowess.
CORPER IBRAHIM: Many students are like that. There is a girl in the school where I serve, Aminat is her name. As brilliant as this girl is, she will always see it as a deliberate attempt to kill her whenever you call her to express herself among her colleagues. One day, I was in their class and thought of delivering her from the bondage of fear; then I asked her to discuss expressively on a given topic for three minute.
NANA AISHAT: (anxiously) And did she do it?
CORPER IBRAHIM: Somehow, because she nearly fainted. She was profusely sweating all over.
HAJIA SELIMAT: (laughing) May be that is what we will do for Nana Aishat.
NANA AISHAT: (sadly) I beg you in the name of Allah. I will die if you do so.
CORPER IBRAHIM: (laughing) If you die, I have the injection that will wake you up.
HAJIA SELIMAT: Then you have spoilt the whole matter because this Nana Aishat fears injection more than the one you are talking about. Her father’s friend will always lash her when matters regarding that fact come up.
CORPER IBRAHIM: Alhaja, don’t worry; I know how to handle that area.
“In a short while, Alhaji Mabaruka rushes out of the house carrying Abdulahi on her shoulder as she sobs”.
ALHAJA MABARUKA: (weeping loudly) I am in trouble. What I used to pray against has finally happened to my own son.
HAJIA SELIMAT: (confusingly) What is that, Alhaja Mabaruka?
ALHAJA MABARUKA: (weeping) I was bathing Abdulahi just now and he slumped and could not walk with his two legs.
HAJIA SELIMAT: (sadly) Allah Seriki, what is this? I am in trouble. What can we do now?
NANA AISHAT: (weeping) Damn Allah, why is this happening to my own brother? Corper Ibrahim we are in trouble.
CORPER IBRAHIM: (warmly) Lets not be panic. Has the boy received the anti-polio vaccine?
ALHAJA MABARUKA: (sadly) What has that got to do with this situation?
CORPER IBRAHIM: Abdulahi is suffering from what we called poliomyelitis. I remember you used to complain to me that the boy has a series of infectious diseases in the spine. That experience usually leads to inability of a person to move particular muscles like we have here now.
ALHAJA MABARUKA: (weeping) I am in trouble. What can we do now, Corper Ibrahim?
CORPER IBRAHIM: I really don’t know. All I believe is that the boy may have outgrown this if he has been allowed to receive the anti-polio vaccine.
HAJIA SELIMAT: (loudly) And you did not tell us all of this since you came.
NANA AISHAT: (cuts in sadly) He did, mother, but we wouldn’t listen.
CORPER IBRAHIM: You also warned me not to raise such issue again the day I was trying to explain to you about it when the vaccine administrators came around. I was afraid I may lose your care and help. That was why I decided to keep quiet and not pester you. I also told Alhaji too but he turned the idea down.
ALHAJA MABARUKA: (fogged) How can we find the anti-polio administrators now? My son must survive this.
CORPER IBRAHIM: (sadly) Am sorry. His condition has grown worse and if given the anti-polio vaccine now, it may react negatively in his body. All we need to do now is to visit the hospital.
HAJIA SELIMAT: (loudly) Hospital we don’t go to the hospital.
CORPER IBRAHIM: (snidely) No problem. Please permit me to go home now. I want to start preparing for my CDS.
ALHAJA MABARUKA: (profusely weeping) Please Corper Ibrahim, don’t do this to us. We will go.
CORPER IBRAHIM: (snidely) You will go?
ALHAJA MABARUKA: Yes, we will.
(Light turns down gently)
SCENE NINE
Light comes up revealing the office of Doctor Teslim. The office is fully furnished with a table and chairs both for the doctor and his clients, heap of files for patients, including and not limited to his stethoscope and health related calendars hanged on the wall.
Sitting before Doctor Teslim are Corper Ibrahim, Alhaja Mabaruka carrying Abdulahi and Hajia Selimat.
DOCTOR TESLIM: (to Alhaja Mabaruka) Madam, you have to appreciate this Corper for all he has done concerning this issue. Like many other parents in this community, you have showed a level of indifference towards the administration of the anti-polio vaccine, and this has cost many parents the legs and arms of their children due to their ignorance. Governments on their part have not done any bad by introducing the vaccine. Infact, they have taken a proactive measure. We are the ones that need to be re-oriented. We have started treating the boy and by next week, we will discharge him. After a week of the discharge, he must be presented for the anti-polio vaccine. If you see none of the anti-polio administrator during that time, you must look for them by all means.
ALHAJA MABARUKA: (warmly) I will look for them.
CORPER IBRAHIM: (to the doctor) Doctor, please can’t we get the vaccine here in the hospital?
DOCTOR TESLIM: We used to do that but because of the wrong attitude of the parents here we have stopped administering the vaccine.
CORPER IBRAHIM: No problem. I will organize my team members to come and do that for us. I will also organize a seminar on that in the government secretariat.
DOCTOR TESLIM: That will be alright. We will also like to work with you in that area. Our people need to be educated. Alhaja Mabaruka, where is your husband?
ALHAJA MABARUKA: He is not in town. He travelled to Kano yesterday. As soon as he is back he will surely visit your.
HAJIA SELIMAT: [cuts in] Don’t mind Alhaja, Doctor Teslim. He may not want to visit you. The only doctor he believes is one of his friends, Alhaji Nasir who always come home to treat anyone of us that is sick. He doesn’t allow us to visit the hospital. It was because Abudlahi’s case was getting out of hand that was why we brought him here.
DOCTOR TESLIM: [warmly] Don’t worry. Tell him that his son is lying in the hospital bed, and let’s see if he will come or not.
CORPER IBRAHIM: He will surely come doctor.
HAJIA SELIMAT: [shyly] He will come.
DOCTOR TESLIM: No problem.
[Light turns down gently]
SCENE TEN
A Week Later
Light comes up revealing the living room of Alhaji Haruna, Corper Ibrahim, Hajia Selimat and Nana Aishat.
ALHAJI HARUNA: [to Ibrahim] Corper Ibrahim I really appreciate you for bringing a turnaround into my family’s health system. We have all been living with a wrong mentality especially on the importance of the anti-polio vaccine. When I got to the doctor today, I heard what I have never heard before in my life. Doctor Teslim dealt with so many health issues one by one. He made me understand that in any family, health issues need to be put at the forefront after their feeding system has been balanced. Now, I have a better knowledge on the use of the hospital. I now know that the doctors and other health workers are not concerned with any other aspect of their patients’ privacy as they do on their health, and which is the primary focus of their job.
HAJIA SELIMAT: (smiling) Thanks be to Allah. I was thinking you will not go to see the doctor. You have really surprised me, Alhaji.
CORPER IBRAHIM: I am the happiest today. I had initially tried all I could to enlighten this family but all did not work well. I later educated Nana Aishat on the importance of the anti-polio vaccine. I was afraid of doing too much so that I don’t lose the love and attention showered on me by your great family.
NANA AISHAT: (smiling) Yes. I have learnt so much from Corper Ibrahim but I could not use any of the information to bless anyone in the family or around me because I don’t want to go against the law of the house. Now I can educate nursing mothers and my school mates who are victims of early marriages on ways to take care of the health of their children. I am happy. I am now an ambassador of the anti-polio vaccine administration.
HAJIA SELIMAT: (warmly) I am so happy for you, my daughter. You now have knowledge more than your colleagues and even some of your teachers.
NANA AISHAT: Yes. Let’s appreciate Corper Ibrahim who took his time to educate me on this issue.
ALHAJI HARUNA: (to Ibrahim) Corper Ibrahim; thanks for associating with my family. Let me tell you that your plan to educate the people of this local government on the importance of the anti-polio vaccine will be expressly discussed with the Local Government Chairman, and I know he will appreciate it if I tell him.
CORPER IBRAHIM: (smiling) Thank you, Alhaji. Doctor Teslim also has interest in what you just mentioned.
ALHAJI HARUNA: That makes it better, then.
HAJIA SELIMAT: Don’t forget we are still going to check Abdulahi and his mother in the hospital.
NANA AISHAT: That’s true.
ALHAJI HARUNA: I have not forgotten. We will soon be going. I am just tired of driving. Corper Ibrahim will drive us there.
CORPER IBRAHIM: (gladly) Yes, I will.
NANA AISHAT: (jokingly) Corper Ibrahim?
CORPER IBRAHIM: Nana Aishat.
(Light turns down permanently)
THE END.
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