I work as a doctor, providing services for vulnerable individuals, especially those affected by infectious diseases.
Mission Africa's 2019 outreach gave me the opportunity to reach out to individuals who lack basic health interventions. It was the first time I volunteers for the outreach. Highlights for me were the large number of children that came out for the outreach. During consultation, I noticed a young boy of 15 with features of immunosuppression. He was yet to complete primary education, obviously due to the recurrent school dropouts due to illness. We eventually provided counselling and tests and he tested positive for HIV. I felt fulfilled that we eventually linked him to treatment services close to the village. Without the outreach, probably he would not have been identified and linked to care. A light has shone on his future and he can harness all the potential life has to offer although he tested positive for HIV.
Dr. Charles Onygbado | MBBS MPH | 1st Year Volunteer