(Filed)
Dr. Stella Ameyo Adadevoh died
on August 19, 2014 from health complications after contacting the deadly
Ebola Virus in an attempt to prevent the disease from spreading
throughout Nigeria.
Her single act of bravery
saved millions from a potential outbreak in the country. Nigerians will
forever remember this angel from First Consultant Medical Center (FCMC), Obalende, Lagos.
Many
have asked, doesn’t her selfless action make her worth recognition from
the number one citizen or better still his government?
In July 2014, Liberian-American, Patrick Sawyer
arrived Nigeria despite knowing that he had been infected with the
Ebola virus by his sister, Princess. Sawyer who travelled to Nigeria for
an ECOWAS conference was however admitted at First Consultant Medical
Center after collapsing at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport.
While
there, Patrick Sawyer, according to several accounts, lied about his
condition and misled hospital staff. He is also said to have urinated on
them and taken out his IV causing blood to splash around the room. Even
more alarming, was a call placed to the hospital urging them to let
Sawyer go but this is where Dr Adadevoh, our hero, stepped in and
prevented him from leaving without caring about her own safety.
Four
staff of the FCMC died after coming in contact with Sawyer, one of them
a pregnant 25-year-old nurse who had just started on the job. Led by
the valiant Dr Adadevoh, they practically saved the lives of all
Nigerians and aided the speedy containment of the Ebola disease. They
are all heroes.
Nigerians have asked that the late
doctor be awarded with one of the National Honours, which include the
titles of Officer of the Order of the Federal Republic (OFR), Officer of
the Order of the Niger (OON) and Member of the Order of the Federal
Republic (MFR) among others, in acknowledgement of her sacrifice but the
Federal Government, through Presidential Aide, Doyin Okupe has said
that such an honour cannot be granted posthumously.
However,
even if the Nigerian Government had bestowed a national honour on Dr
Adadevoh, it would be too little too late because they’ve failed her and
no award can right the wrong already done.
The
Nigerian Government failed Dr Adadevoh by not setting up proper checks
for Ebola at the airport in Lagos thereby negligently permitting the
entry of infected Liberian-American, Sawyer.
The
Nigerian Government failed her by not creating an Ebola treatment center
in advance despite knowing fully well that neighbouring countries
Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone were battling the disease.
The
Nigerian Government failed Adadevoh by not doing whatever was necessary
to ensure that she got proper treatment for the disease.
The
Nigerian Government failed Adadevoh by letting her die; she was already
a hero, she didn’t need to die to be one. The greatest honour for her
sacrifice would have been to save her life, any other things pales in
comparison.
It now happens that the greatest
service the Nigerian Government has done to honour the memory of Stella
Ameyo Adadevoh is to spare her its National Honour; an ‘honour’ that was
refused by the late literary icon, Chinua Achebe, twice.
The
sacrifice made by Dr Adadevoh can only be acknowledged with the highest
accolade; gratitude from the people she saved. Our heroine
singlehandedly put herself in harm’s way to keep us, and our children
and, our country as we know it, safe. We will forever be in her debt.
Rest
in peace Aunty Stella. May the gratitude of the millions you laid down
your life for rise up and become a halo around your head, for you were
our guardian angel and we hope that an angel you shall remain.
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