Evil Of Wrong Dioagnosis

==

Evil of wrong diagnosis

₌

By Henry Umahi and Sunday Ani

Kevin Abonyi got the shock of his life when a medical laboratory centre in Obollo Afor, in Udenu Local Government Area of Enugu State declared him HIV positive. He had gone to the medical facility to find out his blood group, genotype and HIV status, having resolved to get married.
A Mass Communication graduate from the University of Nigeria Nsukka, Abonyi, who was 38, could not understand what the laboratory attendant was talking about when the result was handed to him. He became deaf, dumb and paralysed. Somehow, he got hold of himself and with all the courage he could muster, he approached his prospective wife and broke the sad news. He also assured the girl that he did not believe the result and that he would get back to Lagos to visit another laboratory for another diagnosis.
After he visited a laboratory in Lagos, his hope of getting married to the woman of his choice was rekindled, as he was confirmed HIV negative. Highly elated at the turn of event, he travelled back to his village to break the good news to the lady, who also tumbled with joy. They visited Bishop Shanahan Hospital, Nsukka as well as the University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital (UNTH), Enugu, for further medical examination and the result was the same – HIV negative.
Today, Abonyi and the lady live together as husband and wife. And the marriage has produced three lovely children – two boys and a girl.
Narrating how she felt when she got the first news about her husband’s HIV status, his wife, Ifeoma, said: “When he told me that the laboratory test result from Obollo Afor said he was HIV positive, I was devastated. Although, he remained calm, promising to visit a better facility in Lagos, I was confused. When I told my elder brother, he plainly asked me if I loved him. When I said yes, he told me to go ahead with the marriage, despite his HIV status. I had already made up my mind to take my brother’s advice when he came back with the news that the result from Lagos lab had given him a clean bill of health. Although, I did not doubt him, he insisted that we should visit Bishop Shanahan Hospital, Nsukka and UNTH for further examinations. Both hospitals confirmed that he was actually negative. My joy knew no bounds and I give God all the glory because many people would have done some terrible things as soon as they were told that they were HIV positive. But in his own case, he took it with maturity and calmness and at the end of the day, it turned out to be a case of wrong diagnosis. So, I thank God for his life.”