Dear Readers,
Death is part of life. Every living being dies and although it is naturally anticipated, the manner and particularly, the timing of its occurrence is hardly ever predictable. It is not about the length but the quality of ones life.
I first heard about Dora Akunyili when she became Director general of NAFDAC in 2001.(1). I was a science student in Senior Secondary School (SS2) at the time. Years later, I was watching TV when a documentary by the BBC was aired about her and her fight against counterfeit and substandard drugs. The documentary highlighted her positive and honest nature and I believe the example of her decision to return the funds given to her by the Petroleum Trust Fund(PTF) was given among other examples of her 'first of a kind' nature.
In 2005,I became a student of the Faculty of Pharmacy at Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and technology, in Kumasi,Ghana. Dora Akunyili's work inspired me I imagined myself in her shoes. I imagined myself as a patient educator and as an advocate for drug safety. Her inspirational work among other personal observations in my practice as a community pharmacist, caused me to set up this blog, with the objective of enlightening the public on the dangers of drug misuse and abuse.
I believe that the most important lessons to be drawn from the life of this Amazon should not be missed. Not that the circumstances surrounding her death ,or the things she should or should not have done to keep her self in health do not matter, it is essential to note the following.
She saved and saves countless lives:
Dora Akunyili may have passed away but even in her death and as I type this post, she continues to save lives. Her indefatigable will to put an end to the loss of health and life resulting from counterfeit and substandard drugs. She is the reason your some of us did not get served chalk in place of the medications we needed when ill. She may no longer be with us, but the policies she put in place live on and continue to protect us.
She stood strong in the face of the fiercest opposition:
In the documentary I referred to, she talked about attempts being made on her life. She stated an incident where shots were fired at her and a bullet pierced through her 'gele'. Yet she stood what what she believed in. Dora already laid her life down, she stopped at nothing,she knew she could have been killed yet she stood.
She stood for accountability and justice:
At the time of her initial diagnosis, the PTF funded her medical trip and when it was determined that she did not need the surgery she returned. She was just and upright even when it was not expected in a country and society where no one else cared about such levels of honesty, dignity. Who returns a government allowance? In Nigeria?
I doubt that I can write exhaustively on Dora Akunyili in a single blog post.If I were to attempt to write about her, I would probably end up writing a book.
What do I stand for? What do you stand for? In today's Nigeria, there are barely any other examples. Her life was proof that beauty can come out of the ugliest and filthiest places. She was an exception, far from typical. Now we have an example, a point of reference for ourselves and our children and for generations to come.
Dora Nkem Akunyili,
Might woman. It is sad to let you go. But we will not wallow in sadness. We are happy,as you have been a beacon of hope to us all. You have shown us with word and action combined that it pays to stand for what is true right and honest.
You put your life on the line with a smile on your face.You stood for justice, integrity and accountability even with the greatest amounts of opposition.
You saved the lives of people even born after your passing. This is the way to live after death. You have left us with power to fight in whatever little ways we can. You have been a true soldier.
Your legacy lives on. We will continue to fight the good fight. You touched lives even outside your sector.You embrace your calling with all your might.
Because of you, we have hope.
Please rest well, you set the foundation and we shall build Nigeria on it.
Salute!
Recommendation: June, 7th should be a National Holiday. Dora Akunyili day. A good reminder of the example she has been. It will lead the younger generation to aspire to do good. #DoraAkunyiliday
Yours Truly,
Aunty Nurse
References: http://sunnewsonline.com/new/?p=66780 (1)
Death is part of life. Every living being dies and although it is naturally anticipated, the manner and particularly, the timing of its occurrence is hardly ever predictable. It is not about the length but the quality of ones life.
In 2005,I became a student of the Faculty of Pharmacy at Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and technology, in Kumasi,Ghana. Dora Akunyili's work inspired me I imagined myself in her shoes. I imagined myself as a patient educator and as an advocate for drug safety. Her inspirational work among other personal observations in my practice as a community pharmacist, caused me to set up this blog, with the objective of enlightening the public on the dangers of drug misuse and abuse.
I believe that the most important lessons to be drawn from the life of this Amazon should not be missed. Not that the circumstances surrounding her death ,or the things she should or should not have done to keep her self in health do not matter, it is essential to note the following.
Dora Akunyili may have passed away but even in her death and as I type this post, she continues to save lives. Her indefatigable will to put an end to the loss of health and life resulting from counterfeit and substandard drugs. She is the reason your some of us did not get served chalk in place of the medications we needed when ill. She may no longer be with us, but the policies she put in place live on and continue to protect us.
She stood strong in the face of the fiercest opposition:
In the documentary I referred to, she talked about attempts being made on her life. She stated an incident where shots were fired at her and a bullet pierced through her 'gele'. Yet she stood what what she believed in. Dora already laid her life down, she stopped at nothing,she knew she could have been killed yet she stood.
She stood for accountability and justice:
At the time of her initial diagnosis, the PTF funded her medical trip and when it was determined that she did not need the surgery she returned. She was just and upright even when it was not expected in a country and society where no one else cared about such levels of honesty, dignity. Who returns a government allowance? In Nigeria?
I doubt that I can write exhaustively on Dora Akunyili in a single blog post.If I were to attempt to write about her, I would probably end up writing a book.
What do I stand for? What do you stand for? In today's Nigeria, there are barely any other examples. Her life was proof that beauty can come out of the ugliest and filthiest places. She was an exception, far from typical. Now we have an example, a point of reference for ourselves and our children and for generations to come.
Dora Nkem Akunyili,
Might woman. It is sad to let you go. But we will not wallow in sadness. We are happy,as you have been a beacon of hope to us all. You have shown us with word and action combined that it pays to stand for what is true right and honest.
You put your life on the line with a smile on your face.You stood for justice, integrity and accountability even with the greatest amounts of opposition.
You saved the lives of people even born after your passing. This is the way to live after death. You have left us with power to fight in whatever little ways we can. You have been a true soldier.
Your legacy lives on. We will continue to fight the good fight. You touched lives even outside your sector.You embrace your calling with all your might.
Because of you, we have hope.
Please rest well, you set the foundation and we shall build Nigeria on it.
Salute!
Recommendation: June, 7th should be a National Holiday. Dora Akunyili day. A good reminder of the example she has been. It will lead the younger generation to aspire to do good. #DoraAkunyiliday
Yours Truly,
Aunty Nurse
References: http://sunnewsonline.com/new/?p=66780 (1)
