The long years of military rule in the country that ended in the late 90s left backlog of challenges. HIV/AIDS was on the prowl, the ravages of this new disease were very pronounced. Mrs. Angela Martins, a staff nurse and the protagonist, was shocked and worried about the media hype of the result of an Impact Assessment Survey nationwide sponsored by the new civilian government to ascertain towns worst hit by HIV/AIDS pandemic which put Umoku town at a shocking 24% prevalence rate in Act 1. In Act 2, Julius was accused of having hand in Fred’s death just as Obi and his subjects had mistaken the cause of rising deaths in the community to witchcraft.Shocked by the reported high prevalence rate in Umoku which was under his constituency, Honourable Nicholas Ibeh had to quickly come to the town with a detachment of HIV/AIDS Control Programme (HACP) workers led by the protagonist. Act 3 continued with Umoku community shunning all efforts to convince them access V.C.T. service both at church and school because of the spell of stigma stirred up against the town and ignorance. Few of the townspeople though were wary of the epidemic like Ogochi who was resisting all manner of pressure in Act 4.However, a delegation of top HACP officials led by the State Coordinator visited Umoku and assured Obi and his people of government’s resolve to tackle the pandemic headlong. Act 5 concluded with Fred’s widow’s falling-out with in-laws. Act 6 started with a customary ceremony which Eche’s friend considered very obnoxious and among the chief cause of the town’s vulnerability to the epidemic. To prove to all that her seven-year childless marriage with Fred was never her fault as was customary, Obioma restarted affair with her ex-lover, Hyacinth. The act ended with a stakeholders’ meeting between some HACP officials and leaders of various interest groups in the community. Vulnerable customs and practices were adduced as the main cause of the rapid spread of the virus.
2020/09/02 23:58:27
