The Formidable Killer II

The Health Series 🌹
Sep 10, 2024

A Formidable Killer
(Part Two) 

          "Good morning everyone, and welcome to today's lecture on Hepatitis". The lecturer on the podium spoke into the microphone. "I'm Dr.Katherine Williams and I'll be discussing this important topic with you all this morning". 
          September 15, 2015; three weeks to the semester exams and a few minutes to eight. That Tuesday morning, the three hundred seater capacity science lecture hall was filled up, with almost every 
seat occupied or expecting an occupant. 
          Hayley Quinn studied Microbiology at the University of California and for some reasons not well known to her she seems most excited and expectant about the lecture. 
          Dr. Williams is a renowned expert in the field of hepatology, also a booklord who had written more than six journals and a variety of articles on various liver retrospects and relatives over the past three years. She's also Head of the Microbiology department and greatly feared by all, her classes wasn't a thing you could be debatable about whether to attend or not. 
          Hayley looked all over for her friends; Kate and Kourtney. She prayed in one breath that they won't be too late for the class, since Dr. Williams had a lateness policy. She was glad as she could see them far off, at the other end of the hall. Kate was speaking with Peter and Kourtney pulled her along to their seats. 
          Dr. Williams walked in at exactly eight. She stood confidently at the front of the lecture hall, surveying the sea of seemly eager students before her. With a warm smile, she began her lecture on hepatitis, a topic that had been her passion for over a decade. "Ladies and gentlemen, today we're going to explore one of the most fascinating and complex diseases of the liver: hepatitis," she started, her 
voice clear and engaging. 
          "Hepatitis, which means 'inflammation of the liver' in Greek, is a condition that affects millions of people worldwide, causing a range of symptoms from mild to severe." She began introducing the subject topic which was displayed on the projector, also on the screen was something that looked like a liver. 
     "What the heck is that?" She heard Kate ask. 
     "It's a damn liver girl!"
     "Of course I know it's a liver, what's wrong with it, why's it looking like some burnt stuff"
     "Cause it is girl, it kinda burnt or rather diseased"       "Yo that's some crazy shit" 
     "Shussshhh" someone cautioned from the rear, typical Kate and Kourtney forgetting they're in class in the midst of actual people.
     "Sorry!!!" They both chorused. 
          Hayley grinned at her friends boisterous nature with conversations in public. She turned her focus back to the lecture. 
          As she spoke, Dr. Williams illustrated key terms on the screen, horrific pictures of various diseased liver depicting different stages of hepatitis. She explained the different types of hepatitis, including hepatitis A, B, C, D, and E, and discussed the various ways in which the disease could be transmitted, such as through contaminated food and water, blood transfusions, and sexual contact. Some mumbling with the last example. 
          She smiled then continued "The causes of hepatitis are multifaceted," she emphasized, using a diagram to illustrate the different pathways by which the virus could infect the liver. "It's not just a matter of poor hygiene or bad luck; hepatitis can be caused by a combination of genetic, environmental, and lifestyle factors." 
          The effects of hepatitis can be acute or chronic and can range from mild to severe. Some of the common effects of hepatitis include: fatigue; the feeling of extreme weekness. loss of appetite, nausea, jaundice, extreme liver damage, scarring, and cirrhosis. Associated mental health issues, such as anxiety and depression, social isolation,economic burden, and relationship strains. If left untreated, hepatitis can lead to severe complications, such as liver failure, liver cancer, and even death. 
          However, with early diagnosis and treatment, it is possible to manage the symptoms and prevent long-term damage. It is essential to seek medical attention if you suspect you have hepatitis or are experiencing any of the symptoms mentioned above. 
          Throughout the lecture, She used a range of teaching aids, including slides, videos, and case studies, to illustrate key concepts and make the material more engaging. She also encouraged students to ask questions and participate in discussions, creating a dynamic and interactive learning environment. 
          As the lecture drew to a close at about twelve, Dr. Williams summarized the key points and emphasized the importance of prevention, diagnosis, and treatment in managing hepatitis. She also encouraged students to take an active role in promoting awareness and education about the disease, both in their personal and professional lives.
          "In conclusion" she said "hepatitis is a complex and multifaceted disease that requires a comprehensive and nuanced approach," she said, her eyes scanning the room. "As future healthcare professionals, it's essential that you understand the causes and effects of hepatitis, as well as the ways in which we can work together to prevent, diagnose, and treat this condition. Thank you for your attention, and I welcome any questions you may have."
          Some questions were asked, which she answered. For the remaining minutes spanning into days, Hayley knew she hated this dreadful monster and would do all she could do to crush it at any surgence along her career path. She made a promise to encourage the awareness of this miscreant she would call the FORMIDABLE KILLER.

Written by:
Odusola Ayomikun.


Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Yellow

Image
  Yellow            "Ro ra arakunrin" (Be be careful young man). Nike heard her Uncle shout in fury.          With a glance at him and then on the road, she expected to find a cause for his outburst, cause she'd startled when she heard his voice in her sleep.          "Uncle, is there a problem!" She asked mopping her eyes with the back of her hands.          "Oh Nike; sorry o, it's that useless danfo driver that cannot keep to his lane".  "Alakoba ofe ba motor je fun mi" (he wants to wreck my car).          She bothered about the recklessness of some motorist, not to talk of the okada riders (motorcyclists) who wouldn't mind flying through the road. She wondered how many road accidents had been caused by such nonchalance, was sure her uncle couldn't have helped but express roadrage as he shouted at the reckless driver who had just cut h...
Read more

Ijamba Moto

Image
        Ijamba Moto S eemed she'd glanced at her phone for a second too long, her heart skipping a beat as the car veered slightly. Her subconscious self had taken the lead in slamming her heels on the brakes, the Lexus jerked violently before stopping just inches ahead. Her heart pounded in her ears as she watched rain traced lines down her windshield like tears. It was supposed to be one of those not really eventful Wednesday only for the unlikely beginning of this one in particular. It had started raining since five, loud thunder storms echoing through the city. It was as though a grey Wednesday, the kind that clung to the city like a wet cloth. Though the heavy downpour lastest for a consecutive three hours, it was now reduced to a pitter patter leaving Lagos glistening but moody, its usual chaos reduced to muted murmurs and slippery streets. Kemi Jacobs, twenty-six and running on two hours of sleep, gripped her steering wheel with one hand and dabbed her...
Read more

Before 30

Image
19 NOVEMBER, 2025 / ODUSOLA AYOMIKUN   Before 30           Bisola Adebayo was the kind of woman who organized her life with almost mathematical precision. It ran in the familyher parents, both esteemed medical professors, had always expected nothing short of excellence from their only child.           At twenty-seven, she had checked off nearly every item on her childhood vision board: she had graduated with a first-class degree in her dream course, become a fast-rising marketing strategist in Lagos, attended three international conferences, owned a Benz, and lived in an apartment that smelled of lavender and discipline.           What more could a woman ask for? She was almost fulfilled except for the most important desire of all: getting married before turning twenty-eight. That was the lone unchecked box. She had not been in a relationship since her university days. Back then she had been quite the cynosu...
Read more