A very “patient” me

Late one evening I felt a headache split my forehead. I took a paracetamol, hoping it would disappear. It didn't, and a few hours later a raging fever took over. A colleague had me packed to the hospital, where I was found to have mixed malaria, falciparum and vivax.

As I responded to one drug and reacted against another, a suitable combination was eventually arrived at, and I was pronounced ready for discharge nine days after admittance. I was euphoric. Scores of visitors had dropped by, and “Get well” cards littered the room. Many students came to enjoy the sight of a …