By Abiola Olawale
Elder statesman and leader of Pan Niger Delta Forum (PANDEF), Chief Edwin Clark has recounted his experience after surviving the Covid-19 disease, alongside nine members of family.
The Niger Delta leader who had tested positive for the virus in January, recounted how he contracted the infection through his niece who paid him a visit.
Clark, while speaking with journalists, Wednesday, stated that he was afraid when the result came out positive because the virus has claimed many lives.
In his words, “Sometime last month, I received a call from one of my nieces that she was just coming from Warri. I told her that people in Warri do not observe COVID-19 protocols very well, and I demanded that she stays in the guest house. On the third day, my niece became very ill. She was very weak, coughing and said she had malaria. I directed that she should be taken to my clinic. Because of her cough, the doctor asked that she goes for a COVID-19 test.
“The next day, the Health Minister, Dr. Osagie Ehanire, sent doctors and 24 of us in the house were tested and on Saturday, the result came and nine of us tested positive. Number one on the list was I. I was terribly worried because people had died from the virus. Dr. Ehanire contacted the FCT COVID team and they wanted to evacuate me to a good isolation centre, but I insisted on treatment from home. They sent doctors to look after me and the rest who tested positive. I was worried because I have heard of people dying of the virus.” Clark said.
The elder statesman recovered from the virus after spending two weeks treating the infection as subsequent tests carried out on him by the NCDC returned negative.
Following his miraculous recovery, Clark at 93 is one of oldest Nigerians to have survived the deadly virus ravaging Nigeria and the world.
