THE MOTHER OF SAFETY
There is this particular quote I saw and I ended up liking it so much. Surely, I will share the quote with you, however, before I do, I will be telling you a story because knowledge is all that is left when all is forgotten and Intelligence is the ability to see even when the lights are off. It was in this light that I felt sharing this particular story before telling you who or what the mother of safety is, is paramount.
Now, let's get the ball rolling. This is a short story about Adenike, a student who died few years ago. How did she died? What led to her death? What killed her? What lessons can we deduce from her story? Let's get going.
Adenike was a student studying Veterinary Medicine in a prestigious University I will not mention. Adenike was a very bright student as she always ace her exams. Not only does she always ace her exams, she was also always found challenging her lecturers theories and ideology. One that stand out for me was when Dr. Khalifa asked a fellow student if she had a boyfriend (lover) and she replied in the affirmative. Dr. Khalifa outrightly told her that she was wasting her precious time and all he would be telling her was to focus on her studies. Immediately, Adenike raised her hand and when I saw Adenike's finger in the air, I knew we were in for a very long talk.
Dr. Khalifa adjusted his glasses that were hanging on his nose, and gave her room to air her opinion. Adenike cleared her throat and she started by asking the lecturer and the students this question - "At what age does a cow reaches or attains puberty?". Everyone was confused as to how the puberty of a cow corresponded with the matter on the table. Well, someone answered about one and half years and Dr. Khalifa put the icing on the cake and said "well, that's for our indigenous breeds, for exotic breeds, about nine months to a year old". With Adenike satisfied with the answer, she continued, "so after puberty, what next?". I can remember vividly that it was Samuel that answered. He screamed from behind "Breeding" and we all burst into a very heavy laughter.
That was not all as Adenike continued dishing out her questions. She went on to ask and in her words.. "What's the at what age does a Female human attain puberty?". It was beginning to make sense to me. I remember I shouted from behind "12-16 years of age". Adenike then smiled and dished out the last question.. "then, what should follow?".. Breeding of course! Lol. Everyone of us, including our Lecturer burst into laughter. He was amazed. So we were.
Adenike then went on to give an explanation of what she meant. She said.. "This is a theriogenology and it means a branch of veterinary medicine that is concerned with reproduction. So, sir.. It is not a pathology that she has a lover. In fact, physiologically she's in her most fertile years as the most competent eggs are recruited at this stage".
The lecturer was dumbfounded. She left his jaws hanging in the air. That was how good Adenike was. She was so good that Lecturers, at the end of their lectures ask her if she had anything to contribute.
So, one day, Adenike went for a party and at the party she had so much to eat. I forgot to add that she also partied hard in her lifetime. Well, after the party ended, everybody was said to have dispersed to their various homes and abodes. Of course, same as Adenike, she returned back to her lodge, where she lived alone.
Then, around 2:00a.m, her tummy began to rumble and with the speed of light she dashed into the restroom to relieve herself. It was while she was relieving herself that she felt something that was like a pinch on one of her buttocks. It was so slight that she didn't count it to be anything. She cleaned herself up but noticed some trace of blood. She just wiped it off and went her way.
Few days later, she began to feel sick to the extent she couldn't help get herself out of the bed. She went to the hospital and after making her complaints, she was given some drugs. She returned home and was taking the drugs prescribed but she wasn't getting any better. After about twenty days, she died in her room, sadly.
It was after her death, an autopsy was conducted on her and she was found to have died of Leptospirosis.
Now.. Leptospirosis! It's a zoonotic disease caused as a result of infection with any of the several pathogenic serovar of Leptospira. This simply means that it's a disease of animals but it can be transmitted to Humans too. In fact, it is one of the most common zoonotic disease in the world. It's even known as "Rat Catchers fever" and this is because rodents are reservoir hosts of the disease.
Dogs, Pigs, Horses and other animals can also transmit the disease. Leptospirosis is transmitted through contact with the urine of infected animals, or through contact with water or soil that has been contaminated with infected animal urine.
There are a few different clinical signs of leptospirosis in humans, including: fever, headache, chills, muscle aches, vomiting, abdominal pain, jaundice, and kidney failure. Some people may also experience a rash, while others may not show any signs at all. It's important to note that the symptoms can vary from person to person, and they can also depend on the severity of the infection.
Why am I sharing this? It is very simple. It is to let you know that Carefulness is the mother of safety. It is the very mother of safety. Health is wealth truly but you have to be very careful and not nonchalant and that is the way to be mindful of ones health.
If you should ease yourself, make sure to always open the toilet seat to check first. If possible, make sure to flush to avoid bites from rodents or even snakes.
I am Taiwo Emmanuel, the Pendragon and I care about your health. Till we get to the promised land, I shall be waiting for when you will pass me a glass of water and thank God for the gift of grace for the race.
Cheers to a healthier and a wealthier you!
Also, note that Adenike's story is purely fiction.