Below is a transcript of our conversation with Niki Osakue, CMU graduate student pursuing Master of Public Health
David Nicholas:
I'm David Nicholas, and this is Central Focus, a weekly look at research activity and innovative work from Central Michigan University students and faculty. Graduate student Niki Osakue is from Nigeria and has lived in Botswana. In 2016, she was pregnant with triplets. Given the health risk of multiples, she came to the U.S. and her children were born in Saginaw. She returned to Africa to raise her children with her husband and their six-year-old son. What has happened since has been a life journey with both tragedy and loss, but also optimism and a goal to help others. Niki came to our studios and sat down to tell me her story.
Niki Osakue:
So, while in Botswana, they took ill. Unfortunately, I lost two of them within the space of 10 days. And the other one I left at home. My husband called me because he was watching her and said, she's not breathing properly. She needs to go to the hospital. Well, because I've already lost two babies in that same hospital, I didn't want to take the third one there. So, it was like around 2 A.M. and I drove to the capital city because I live in a small town. I drove to the capital city and took her to the hospital. That was like a private hospital. And after she got well, I just took her at my then six-year-old and came back to the US. But I told myself that the only way to prevent what happened to me from happening to other mothers is to go into nursing, where I could advocate for mothers. Because when I was telling them, look, she's not looking good, they kept telling me, oh, she's just mildly dehydrated, she's mine, well, attend to her, don't be paranoid, don't be this. And I see a lot of that happening apart from the fact that most people don't have equal access to health. Anyway, so I decided to go into nursing. I registered with Alma College, and I did my bachelor's in nursing at Alma College. And I graduated, but during my clinical rotation, when I did the pediatrics, I realized that every time I see a child that is sick, it affects me. It's either I start crying or I'm not able to. And you can't do that as a nurse…
DN:
Most memories come back.
NO:
Yeah, exactly.
DN:
The move then to public health to advocate in the general area of public health, then is there a focus within that, a particular area? Are you able to hone that down to very directly deal with the types of cases and the types of people that you want to reach?
NO:
Yes, that's when I graduate. But for now, remember, public health has to do with the water that we're drinking, the food we eat, the environment. Everything in life is public health. So, my focus though when I graduate would be, I would like to work in the health department in a rural area where I can attend to mothers and babies. But then again, if I have an opportunity, like be it men, women, whatever, as long as you have a need relating to what you put in your mouth, your access to medication or health, mental health, everything. Most women in impoverished neighborhoods don't like going for prenatal care while they are pregnant because they believe that health practitioners don't listen to them, or especially those in minority, don't listen to them or advocate for them, and so they (they) just stay back. And when you stay back home, you don't know what is going on with your baby and all that. So, I won't be able to advocate and speak for those people that they should be equal access to care and providers should listen to women.
DN:
At this point then, where are you in your studies and what then do you think you would remain in the United States or would you like to take this knowledge back with you to Nigeria to be able to share it with women who in that area may have been in a similar circumstance that you found yourself in?
NO:
I plan to remain in the United States. There's also a need here and I plan to do it one day at a time, yes. I like what you said about it's a long-term thing. Unfortunately, I feel racism drives equal access to health, quality access to care for everyone. Health should be a right, not a privilege for everyone.
DN:
A lot of bravery, a lot of courage and grace that you've shown in coming along as far as you have. And Niki Osakue, I can't thank you enough for taking the time to share your story with us and wish you the best as you move ahead in your studies. And then, as you said, helping people one person at a time.
NO:
Thank you very much. The honor is mine. I'm actually glad that I was singled out to do this. Thank you so much. And I hope that someday, yes, I can prevent this from happening to another mother, one day at a time. Thank you.
