When The Ripples Fade Poem by segun Johnson Ozique

Memory reminds me; of the good consulting days
When?
Probably a decade and score days
Is that how long HIV/AIDs has been with us?
Much more
In that world the victims would sneak on us; inquiring, demanding, imploring, searching for answers to the 'whys' 'whats' or 'hows' of the woes be falling them
Then there were the media paid rats of the prints and electronics part, of the partaking charade
Then the big donor bosses, the top echelon civil servants and experts riding in gigantic cars who come super-vising
The politicians would not miss outs as they stop by to inquire what progress and difficulties-they care not do anything about-we face
And always, on our feet
Day or night
We question, study, analyze
Coffee, tea, beverage and all chewable passed around to refreshen the mouth and up our low sugar levels against weariness
Naps may come on chairs, tables, benches among the figure crunchers who must sit-in to monitor budget and logistics utilization to the directives of the firm
And sometimes the mood is broken by talks of the shenanigans, excuses and harrowing stories of victimization, molestation or rape resulting in the victims' predicaments
The emotional roller coaster of it all drawing laughs or when overwhelmingly sad, cries
Still, nature would not be cheated so at the wee hours most bodies would wobble to sleep

The next day resumes the roaming; skips, run and walks we would; armed with drugs, kits and skills combing river beds, mountaintop to villages in valleys
Wandering through fields, towns, suburbs, pathways, alleys on foots, driving and flying
Scribbling and listening to forsaking tales, nightmarish talks, secrets and whispers

Then the work wound-up with reports and pictures in perfect piles of files; basket full and computer storages
The top echelon civil servants in smiles and smirk would dash with the reports to brief the ministers
The ministers will glow to go pamper the politicians
The politicians, with the minister's arm in armpit will go to feast with the foreign government and charity or donor arm on well tailored execution
From which the media would be invited to pitch, cast, gloss over and scribe befitting memorials

Then follow, high-fives, shakes and pats all around commemorating the accomplishments of everyone's motives except the victims:
'This is amazing achievement, encouraging and will impact positively on all needing attention for the care and management of HIV/AIDs'. The minister would crow
'What monies were invested by our benefactors making donations surely is justified' the charity would glow
'Fantastic to meet our partner needs and have our expatriates working with local counterparts to transfer skills and knowledge ' the foreign government and their consultants would preach
And,
'More drugs to be purchased, more kits we beg donated, more money provided, larger budgets be considered' the civil gluttony servants would present, cap in hand

And through it all, the victims' hope soar to high heavens with vision of doors and opportunities for redemption
Reading, watching, listening to all and partaking in the fairy-tale feastful euphoria
Occasionally, few are plucked dressed in fancy clothing and thrust before microphones, cameras and flashes
But then, the storm soon is over, the madness dies, the camera shuts, the click stops and the inks dry
Then reality sails in to the shore of the victims' homes in bowl of loneliness, abandonment, exposure
Victims come full face to the clutches of insomnia, discrimination, stigmatization, ridicules and, or banishment

HIV/AIDs and other viruses we fought to finish still rear their mean heads, unlock and enter our homes uninvited and with impunity
Sit comfortably in our homes, in our holy places, hotels, sleep on our mattresses and beds, in our night gowns and pyjamas, our underwears, suits and casuals
The world it seems often goes to wars armed to teeth with drums, flutes and rambling noises that diseases counter with ear plugs while they go to bed have sweet dreams until the attacker turns weary
Rippling and fairy-tale counter attack against diseases are not the answer but genuine coordinated concerns, education, prevention and management of infectious and contagious ailments