Chimamanda Adichie Expresses Fear For Her Doctor Husband Amid Coronavirus Outbreak

Posted by Thandiubani on Mon 06th Apr, 2020 - tori.ng

Nigerian writer, Chimamanda Adichie has spoken out about coronavirus and the fear medical doctors face.

Chimamanda Adichie

Celebrated author, Chimamanda Adichie who is based in the United States with her family has revealed that she becomes worried each time her medical doctor husband leaves home for work at the hospital.

In a post on her verified Instagram account on Sunday, the author of Half of a Yellow Sun, said she bothers when her daughter coughs or when her throat itches.

She wrote, “Coronavirus is a menace in the air, a menace inside our heads. Every day I am reminded of how fragile, how breakable we are.⁣⁣

“My husband is a doctor and each morning when he leaves for work, I worry. My daughter coughs and I worry. My throat itches and I worry.

“On Facetime, I watch my elderly parents. I admonish them gently: Don’t let people come to the house. Don’t read the rubbish news on WhatsApp.⁣⁣

“In these pandemic-blighted times, living with a medical professional who so far has diagnosed two positive cases, in an American state being told to brace itself for an onslaught of more cases, my goal is to feel anxiety but not allow it fester into paranoia.

“And what helps me is knowledge. The news can be emotionally exhausting and can inflame anxiety, but it is important for me to educate myself. I am always careful about my news sources.⁣⁣

“And I make an effort not to read only about the coronavirus. I have just started reading ‘Selected Poems’ by Kenneth Fearing and a wonderfully honest memoir, ‘Minor Feelings: An Asian American Reckoning’ by Cathy Park Hong. ⁣⁣⁣ ⁣⁣⁣

“I am listening to the great Bill Withers, may he rest in peace. I wish you all strength and as many moments of tranquility as possible.”