Chronicle Editor
Patrick Chitumba, Midlands Bureau Chief
IMAGINE being admitted to the same Covid-19 isolation wing with your mother and later learning that she has died.
You can’t even attend her burial due to Covid-19 restrictions and the fact that you are still in isolation in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU).
This is what popular radio presenter with 95.8 FM also known as Central Radio which broadcasts from Gweru — Shepherd Sekenhamo (33) went through after he tested positive to Covid-19 last month.
Unfortunately, his mother, Gogo Sekenhamo popularly known as Granny Mupuriri, didn’t make it as she died on 16 July, two days after turning 71.
Sekenhamo who is also known as “The Honourable Mayor of Midlands province” on radio finally recovered and was discharged from Gweru Provincial Hospital on July 27.
He said when he experienced an excruciating headache he suspected that he had been hit by the new wave of Covid-19.
Sekenhamo said there was a period that he was using public transport to and from work and he suspects it was during that time that he was infected with the virus.
“That is the period that I suspect I got infected given that some bus crews do not sanitise passengers and some passengers do not wear face masks. Conductors could also be spreading the virus as some of them put saliva on their fingers then count the money and hand over some of this money as change to passengers. Windows of some commuter omnibuses do not open and this again could be contributing to the spread of the pandemic,” said Sekenhamo.
He said he brought his mother some groceries and suspects that is when he could have infected her.
“What I vividly remember was when my doctor wrote the ICU admission letter . . . his words were “he is critically ill and requires immediate admission into ICU . . .” at that point my oxygen saturation was at 34 percent. Speaking from experience, you feel as if it’s a flu/fever that is building up. In my case the signs and symptoms were minor at first but then became severe later,” said Sekenhamo.
In the first five days he said he had the following symptoms:
Day 1: Terrible headache, could not open his eyes
Day 2: Excruciating headache and cough with some foam
Day 3: Coughing out blood
Day 4: Extreme cold and headache again
Day 5: Difficulty in breathing worsened
“On my first admission, I was taken to the Infectious Diseases Hospital (IDH) by an ambulance and upon arrival I was placed in a holding area. They conducted the test and it came out positive. I was then isolated and given some medication.
“My family was stressed. It was not an easy period for them considering the condition that I was in. As I was admitted to the IDH, my mother was later on admitted as well and we were in the same hospital together. I remember I used to wake up at 1am to go and check on her every night,” he said.
Sekenhamo said his mother was moved to the ICU at Gweru Provincial Hospital where she died on 16 July.
“This was a huge blow to my family as they were held in suspense wondering if I was going to make it out of the ICU after my mother had failed to make it. Mainly I was on oxygen as I was having difficulties breathing. My family didn’t know what to do and learning that my mother had passed on was so difficult for me and I almost lost hope,” he said.
Sekenhamo said there was a period when he did not have any sensation from the waist going down.
“I thank God that I pulled through and also the health workers at GPH for looking after me. I am doing supervised exercises to help increase my lung capacity and they are bearing fruits. The doctor is happy about my condition as he is saying that I have made great strides towards full recovery,” he said.
Sekenhamo said he is pained to see people who continue to gather in large crowds in bars, shebeens, funerals and at banks without wearing face masks and also not practising social distancing.
He said some people even refuse to be sanitised when entering public places.
“I believe that ignorance is the biggest spreader of Covid-19 as we have individuals and also groups within communities who are very ignorant when it comes to this pandemic,” said Sekenhamo.
He said the pandemic is real and it is in the communities.
“Let’s do all that is being encouraged by the relevant authorities so as to stop the spread of Covid-19. If you feel or show any signs and symptoms, quickly seek medical attention at your nearest health facility or consult your doctor.
Let us be wary of some home remedies that are being shared on social media, they may do more harm than good and always seek for clarity from health experts when it comes to some of the steaming ingredients.
“Above all let us mask up, avoid unnecessary movements and practise social distancing. Covid-19 is very real and not a myth. I got infected and escaped death by a whisker,” said Sekenhamo.
Online Reporter