Posted on: Fri 19-08-2016

It was 19th day of August,  2014, the day broke like any other day but the palpable fear and tension concerning the outbreak of Ebola Hemorrhagic Fever in the country hung like a dark cloud in the sky. Four mortalities had already been recorded,  these are the healthcare workers of First Consultants Hospital, Obalende, Lagos who were the primary contacts of Patrick Sawyer,  the index case.  Then the news broke! Stella Adadevoh is dead.

She had been quarantined a couple of weeks earlier and had gone into coma few days back. Many nigerians were hoping and praying that she will make it. We all wanted her to live to tell her story to us and the whole world. We wanted to celebrate her courage, selflessness and love for her country while she is alive. Alas! our desires for her were cut short.

Stella Adadevoh demonstrated her patriotism by ensuring that the index case did not force himself out of hospital admission which could have endangered the lives of millions of Nigerians. She did this by physically restraining Sawyer despite her full awareness of possible health risk to her life. The consequences on her health was fatal. She contracted Ebola virus and she manifested severe symptoms of the disease-  several bouts of bloody diarrhoea, bleeding from all part of the body, sores all over,  severe hypertension and multiple strokes before giving up the ghost.

Today, we celebrate a life of selfless service to humanity,  committment to professionalism and uncommon patriotism and heroism which are rare in this part of the world. Two years down the lane, we can not but eulogise this amiable amazone, a courage personified, patriotism exemplified  and professionalism typified.

Two years after, her country has forgotten her in a hurry.  Her memory has gone into oblivion.  The government has not deemed it fit to establish a memorial in her honour. She was not recognised. As we celebrate this guardian angel today and forever, we implore the Federal Government of Nigeria to bestow a posthumous national honour on her. Also, the nation's health system should be strengthened against the rampaging emerging and re-emerging infectious diseases.

Rest on our heroine.

 

DELE ATIBA

08063264061

[email protected]

for STELLA ADADEVOH SUPPORT GROUP

facebook page : STELLA ADADEVOH SUPPORT GROUP - SASG

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