Chioma arrived in Magabi town for her National Youth Service Corps some months after completing her university program. She is one of the best students in the medicine department, and a lot of people admire her.
Chioma was famous not just for being an intelligent student but also for the fact that she doesn't eat chicken because she is allergic to it. As a new student, many people didn't believe her story at the university until someone blended chicken and made a snack out of it for her.
She ignorantly ate it after being convinced that the snack was free of chicken. Her body was covered with rashes in less than 10 minutes, and they were so severe that she ended up in the hospital. Chioma wouldn't allow the doctors to run any checks on her, and when she recovered a bit, she made it clear that it was an allergy passed on from the older generation to her.
"Are you sure Magabi is okay with you? I can call my friend in the ministry of education to help change your location to a better place." Chioma's mom, Mrs. Lauren, expressed her concern about her daughter traveling to a village where civilization has barely reached.
"I am fine, mom. It's just a year, and Magabi is the best place where I can practice. There are very few hospitals there, and I could be of help," Chioma replied.
"You don't understand me! There is hardly network, no good roads, and no water; the place is just not okay," Mrs. Lauren replied.
"Mom! It's okay; I can take care of myself. I truly want to go there," Chioma replied.
"Maybe I should involve your father because you won't listen to me," Mrs. Lauren said, and she grabbed her phone immediately.
She put a call across to Mr. Ameachi, Chioma's father, despite the daughter begging her to keep it a secret between them.
"I won't be part of your scheme," Mrs. Lauren said to Chioma while expecting her husband to pick up the call.
"Hello! Honey, I am still busy at work. Let me call you back shortly," Mr. Ameachi said, immediately after picking up the call.
"Okay! Call me back as soon as you can," she replied, turning back to her daughter.
"Mom, if you won't let me go to Magabi, I won't practice this profession. I will rather embrace dancing," Chioma threatened her mother.
"How dare you?" Mrs. Lauren replied and eventually had a deep conversation with her daughter. From the conversation, she could tell that Chioma really wanted to go to Magabi, and she supported her.
"I know how to convince your father, but you must promise that you will be fine and won't hesitate to come home if you can't cope there," Mrs. Lauren replied.
Some weeks later, Chioma arrived in Magabi, and it was a whole different world for her. She felt sad for the people there, as they were completely cut off from a lot of things.
"Don't they have government representatives here? This is really bad," Chioma thought while sitting in an old tricycle taking her to the Corpers lodge in the village.
"This is the place," the tricycle rider said to Chioma, who took a glance outside the tricycle first.
"Where?" Chioma asked with so much curiosity.
"The Corpers lodge," he replied.
"Here? How is that possible?" Chioma asked as she stared at the old building where the tricycle was parked.
"This is the only Corper lodge in this village," the tricycle rider replied.
Chioma finally paid him and alighted from the tricycle. A lot of things were playing in her head as she dragged her box into the building.
She pushed the gate open and was surprised to see a few Corpers there, but felt happy to have met someone there.
Chioma exchanged pleasantries, and they chatted at length about the condition of the place. She wasn't happy about everything the other Corpers told her, but Chioma wasn't discouraged.
She suggested they amend some of the damaged things and make the place conducive, which other Corpers agreed to. After a few days of fixing the lodge, Chioma went to Magabi Health to register and resume work.
The condition of the place was worse, and Chioma wished she had listened to her mom.
"I can't back out now; I am here for a purpose. I can do it," she assured herself after a nurse showed her around the health center.
Chioma resumed work and was glad to be of great help to the health workers at the center. Every month, she donated her allowance from the government to fix things at the hospital since her parents sent her money frequently.
After six months of working in Magabi Health Center, there had been a lot of changes there, and the other workers always sang the praises of Chioma.
One evening, a woman came with her child, almost lifeless, and Chioma was the doctor on duty. She was quick to retrieve the child from the mother and did some manual checks after taking the mother's complaint.
"Madam, your son might be struggling with appendicitis, but we can't be too sure until the test is carried out," Chioma told the boy's mother.
"Jesus, where will I get the test done?" She asked.
"In the city, he will be operated on if that's the case," Chioma replied.
The woman started weeping, and Chioma gave the young boy some medication to keep him stable. Chioma had a brief conversation with the woman and discovered that she is a farmer who lost her husband to an illness some years ago.
Chioma gave the woman some money and insisted that she go to the city immediately to do the needed test. The woman returned the next day with the test result, and her diagnosis was true.
"Madam, your son needs surgery. It's very urgent," Chioma broke the news to Mrs. Audu.
"I am finished!" Mrs. Audu exclaimed and started rolling on the floor.
"Calm down; he will be fine. Please stand up," Chioma replied.
Chioma made some calls to raise funds for the boys surgery, and it went well. She got the money and sent Mrs. Audu's son for the surgery immediately.
The surgery was a success, and weeks after the boy had fully recovered, Chioma decided to pay the family a visit.
Upon reaching Mrs. Audi's house, Chioma was happy to see the young boy running around.
"I made a delicious chicken soup for you. I know it's little compared to everything you did for us, but please enjoy it with us," Mrs. Audu said to Chioma.
"Thanks a lot, ma. I really appreciate you. Maybe next time," Chioma replied.
"Are you angry, or don't you find my house okay?" Mrs. Audu asked.
"No, it's not that; I am allergic to chicken. I don't eat it," Chioma replied.
"Oh! Sorry, but I might have a solution to that because my mother had allergies too and still ate chicken," Mrs. Audu replied.
"Maybe you don't know what allergies mean," Chioma replied.
"I do. My mother always made this special dish with chicken, and whenever she did, she always enjoyed chicken," Mrs. Audu replied.
"Really, can you make the dish as well?" Chioma asked, even though she didn't believe.
"Yes, I remember the ingredients and process very well. It's simple," she replied.
Mrs. Audu promised to make the dish, and she did. Chioma was reluctant to try the dish when Mrs. Audu brought it to the health center, but she eventually did.
She waited for minutes, but there was no reaction, and she couldn't believe it.
"What's the secret? I don't know chicken tastes this great," Chioma muttered after emptying the dish.
Chioma couldn't contain her joy when she met Mrs. Audu, and she was happy to have learned how to make chicken with some ingredients that prevented the allergies.
Months after Chioma finished her service, she returned home, and her family was shocked to see her eating chicken, but she didn't share the secret recipe with them for a while.