Between nurses who treat patients like sinners, health centres with little to no privacy, and the very real threat of becoming campus gossip by sundown, getting tested for STIs on a Nigerian university campus is its own kind of ordeal.
In this article, four Nigerian University students tell us why getting tested for sexually transmitted infections (STIs) sometimes feels like a nightmare.
1. 鈥淚 Don鈥檛 Have Money for Treatment, So I鈥檇 Rather not Know鈥 鈥 Daniella*, 23
The clinic on campus is genuinely terrible. I went in once to treat malaria and left feeling like I鈥檇 done something wrong. The nurse looked at me like I was wasting her time. So the idea of walking in there and asking specifically for an STI test? I can鈥檛 even picture it.
It鈥檚 not just the attitude. There鈥檚 no privacy, either. The waiting area is open; everyone can see who鈥檚 sitting where, and people talk. My school isn鈥檛 that big. By the time you leave, three people you know have already seen you and started drawing conclusions.
I鈥檝e had unprotected sex before, and I know I probably should get tested, but every time I think about actually doing it, I talk myself out of it. What if it鈥檚 positive? I don鈥檛 have money for treatment, and I can鈥檛 tell my parents. So I鈥檇 rather just not know.
2. 鈥淚鈥檇 Rather Wait It Out or Pray It Away鈥 鈥 Anna*, 20
There鈥檚 a way people in school look at girls who aren鈥檛 bothered by sex. The moment they notice you鈥檙e not ashamed of it, they start talking about you. Honestly, I鈥檝e seen it happen to other girls in my hostel and class. Just snippets of gist here and there about what they must be up to.
My friend once went to the campus clinic for a routine check. Somebody saw her there and assumed the worst. Now the entire department knows her for being the girl who took tests at the clinic. She hadn鈥檛 even done anything, yet that story followed her for the rest of the semester.
I鈥檓 in 200 level, so I still have years left in this school. I can鈥檛 afford to have a rumour about me being spread. So even when I鈥檓 worried or something feels off, I just wait it out and pray it resolves itself.
3. “My Girlfriend Thinks Asking to Get Tested Means I Don鈥檛 Trust Her鈥 鈥 Bazzy*, 24
My babe and I have been together for about two years. A few months ago, I brought up the idea of us both getting tested, just to be responsible. She wanted to know why I was suddenly suggesting it, whether I鈥檇 been with someone else, or if I didn鈥檛 trust her. I dropped it so fast, and I haven鈥檛 brought it up ever since.
The thing is, I actually want to get tested, but testing has this loaded meaning in relationships. It feels like I鈥檓 starting to make a statement about my babe鈥檚 loyalty, and it鈥檚 going to keep causing unnecessary drama. I鈥檒l probably just go alone one day without telling anybody.
4. 鈥淢y Parents Don鈥檛 Know How To Mind Their Business鈥 鈥 Bibi*, 18
I鈥檓 really dependent on my parents for all my finances. They pay my fees, my allowance, everything. And because my account is connected to theirs, they鈥檙e able to monitor the account. So any unusual transaction is a conversation waiting for me on the next phone call. And that鈥檚 assuming they don鈥檛 immediately call to ask.
Going to the clinic isn鈥檛 free. I鈥檒l pay for registration to get a card, a consultation and the testing. Even if I could explain away a random clinic charge, the follow-up questions are going to be crazy. My mum, especially. She would want to know exactly what I was tested for and why.
I鈥檓 not ready for that conversation, and I don鈥檛 think I鈥檒l ever be while I鈥檓 still depending on them.
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