Sunday, Nov. 13th 2005
My plans were to attend church service, go home from there and get dressed for the African shrine. I usually go with my group (TAM) Treatment Action Movement and other places where we can reach people and give some sensitization talk on HIV/AIDS. But unfortunately I couldn't get to do any of these. I did not know what came over me, my mood just changed and I spent the rest of the day lazing around the house. Monday, Nov. 14th 2005
Woke up earlier than usual, 6AM precisely. Took my drugs, tidy up my room and rushed off to the bathroom for my bath. Before 9AM, I was out of the house. I was at the Federal Radio Corporation of Nigeria (FRCN) at about 9:45AM and headed for the Controller of Presentation's office. Surprisingly, she was not ready to see I and my friends and she made it clear. I left her office pissed off. I left FRCN to AIDS Alliance office to submit a report to the program officer. Based on our training at the FRCN, they fixed a mock presentation for us the next. I left the AIDS Alliance for my house around 5PM in the evening feeling very tired. I managed to cock something to eat and barely was able to wash my hands before I slept off.
Tuesday 15th Nov. 2005
Waoh! It was a beautiful day because I received a call from my boyfriend that I should stop over at his office on my way out. He got something for me, I felt very excited. I prayed and gulped my pills. I know by now you will be thinking I am not the prayerful type because I did not pray yesterday. Anyway, I took a bath as usual and left the house with great expectations. He was so happy to see me, quickly hugged and kissed me. When I was about to leave, he gave me some amount of money, never mind, I won't mention how much because I don't want you to come and ask for some, just joking. I got to AIDS Alliance office very late and they were already waiting for me to come and make my presentation. It went on fine but I made some mistakes which were corrected. I left for home with my friend; she actually spent the night in my house.
Wednesday 16th Nov. 2005
I went to AIDS Alliance with Amina, my friend, to conclude our plans with the Program Officer for another mock presentation. We left for home from there.
Thursday 17th Nov. 2005
It was a friend's birthday. I and Amina went to the market and bought some gifts for her. I almost forgot to take along my drugs. The party started later on, and we had a wonderful time. My boyfriend called as usual and asked where I was, I told him and he decided to join us.
Friday 18th Nov. 2005
I spent the day laying around and practicing my mock presentation.
Saturday 19th Nov. 2005
I took part in a training at Tisco plaza in Ikeja. It was a class on Treatment Action Movement. I was one of the participants. It started as schedule and at about 3:00pm we went for a break. The training took the whole day. At the end of it I was able to acquire some skills and knowledge about treatment and why it is very necessary to advocate for free Anti-retroviral drugs in Nigeria as a whole.
Sunday 20th Nov. 2005
Another day to be in the presence of the creator. Actually, it has been long I attended church. After church service, I went home and prepared some rice concortion. It was delicious anyway. I spent the rest of the day resting.
Monday 21st Nov. 2005
I was meant to be at the AIDS Alliance office but decided not to go. Meanwhile I was also expecting Amina. She did not show up as planned. I called her but her response showed she was not in a good mood. Finally, she came and told me why she was not feeling happy. I won't disclose to you because she asked me not to. I tried to encourage her and bring her back to her usual self. We spent the rest of the day cooking and eating what she bought on her way.
Tuesday 22nd Nov. 2005
Aminat woke me up for Morning Prayers. I quickly prepared some rice for us to eat before we left the house. We left home indecisive of where to go first, AIDS Alliance or Projekthope Office. We came to a conclusion by heading to Projekthope office. There we met Steve Aborisade, our host, a wonderful and intellectual man.
We talked on how we can work together as a team, shared our ideas and knowledge and as we took some ice cream and some delicious porridge, do not mind me, I like food a lot. When we left Steve's office instead of going home we decided to go to a girlfriend's house on the Island where we spent the night.
Wednesday 23rd Nov. 2005
I was not comfortable where I slept and I felt this sharp pain in my head. I manage to get up and put my things together. My friend was preparing breakfast for us when I decided to leave; I am not used to early morning meals. I left Amina behind because she had something to do on the Island . I got home feeling very week, I could not go back to sleep because I have to see my tailor. My sister is preparing for her wedding. I had to compel myself to do all the things I needed to do for the day. When Aminat came back she complained that I did not do one of the things she asked me to. I did not mind her because she did not know how I felt.
Thursday 24th Nov. 2005
I remember I had to do some washing which was one of the things I did not do yesterday. So I took all my dirty clothes downstairs to wash and prepared something for breakfast after washing. I joined Aminat in her house later in the day. She took me to her cousin to make my hair. It took us longer than I taught. By the time we got back dinner had been prepared by one of her aunties and we ate, took our bath and said the night prayer.
Friday 25th Nov. 2005
After the usual morning preparation, we left for Alagomeji, Yaba, to see a colleague of ours. On our way, my boyfriend called and it happened to be near his office, so he asked us to come over when we are through with our colleagues. He bought us lunch and complained about my look to Aminat that he want me to get fat. I made him see reasons why I look the way I am now.
From there, we proceeded to the General Hospital on the Island to see a co-worker and submit a proposal. I must not forget to tell you about the dinner party we attended at La Scala Restaurant, MUSON Centre, Onikan, Lagos . It was a dinner organized by Freedom House. Prof. Soyinka was hosting winners of his maiden Award. Mr. Yinka Craig was MC. I had a beautiful time, I felt great when we were introduced and recognized. I had the opportunity to take some snaps with the great Nobel Laureate who held us like his children. It did not end there, the rest of the day was spent at Motherland in Ikeja, we enjoyed Lagbaja and some other artiste who performed. I danced too but not very well because I was not on trouser.
Saturday 26th Nov. 2005
I got home early in the morning, 5am precisely, managed to remove my dress and jumped into bed to sleep, but my relatives kept knocking on my door to either greet or ask why I was not in the house yesterday night to be part of the preparation for the wedding.
I got up angrily and I went to my tailor to collect my dress. I was supposed to read the bride's letter but before I got back from my tailor it has been read by someone else.
I felt bad but it's my entire fault, I should have collected the clothes from my tailor before then. The wedding went on fine and I wished I was the one getting married. Aminat and some other friends attended. My boyfriend was there too.
Sunday 27th 2005
Everywhere in the house looked untidy and I know I got a lot of work to do. Quickly, I washed all the dirty dishes, cleaned the house. But before all these, I had taken my pills. I took two different pills every morning. First, for my T.B and after some thirty minute the HIV Anti- retroviral drugs. I intended going to church but sincerely I was too tired to go out of the house. I went back to sleep and each time I open my eyes, it will go straight to the kitchen, so I went to get some food and eat. I slept all through.
Monday 28th Nov. 2005
I left the house with Amina but we went our separate ways when we got to the Bus-Stop. I had to return my dress to the tailor for amendment; from there I went to Aminat's house to await Steve Aborisade and Lukesh, his Photographer. He was there to interview Aminat's father. The interview went on fine. I left Aminat's house for mine.
Tuesday 29th Nov . 2005
Preparation for ICASA begins. I joined Amina at AIDS Alliance in Ilupeju, we were scheduled to have our final mock presentation, but she forgot her script at home. I did mine and it was excellent. We went to her house hoping to see Steve later in the day but he called and explained that he could not make it. The rest of the day was spent packing the things we needed for ICASA. ICASA is an international conference on HIV/AIDS and Sexually Transmitted Disease.
Wednesday 30th Nov. 2005
Aminat woke me and asked what was wrong with me; I guess I was having a nightmare because I had hit had her while sleeping. I was forced to pray which I did with her. We left the house together as usual to General Hospital on the Island to see a friend of ours called Hassana. She took us to the bank to cash some money.
From there we went to the person repairing my phone and paid some money. I left at Ojuelegba; I had to meet with Steve at Ajeromi Community for an Interview with Victor Omoshein to cover the impact of HIV in his community.
The interview was great; I have never seen a community with so much complexity. three quarter of the community consists of prostitutes. It has about 10,000 people including the young and old. Some prostitutes were interviewed and they gave very positive response. I left there to my house to pack things for ICASA.
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