Opinion: I cried tears of loss and rage at the World Hepatitis Summit
At this year’s World Hepatitis Summit in Lisbon, Portugal, the World Hepatitis Alliance presented me with an award that recognized my leadership as the organization’s president and my advocacy efforts to “improve the lives of people living with viral hepatitis.” As the citation was read aloud, tears started to flow — not tears of joy and pride but of loss and rage.
As I stood on the stage I thought of my mother, Helen, who was a passionate Red Cross champion in Nigeria, where we lived, ever ready to help and support women’s and children’s causes. She was a top member of the National Council for Women Societies, the largest women’s association in Nigeria. She was my first mentor in the humanitarian space, as well as my best friend and confidant, and helped me through some of the most difficult moments of my life.
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