Nigerian Ebola Story – A Rare Success Story
Remembering Dr. Stella Adadevoh who died to stop the spread of Ebola in Nigeria
The world will not forget in a hurry the deadly scourge of Ebola virus and how it shaked the land and breadth of Nigeria in 2014. It came along with so many questions accompanied by a long list of do’s and don’ts. At the end of the day, taming the highly rated Ebola spread in Nigeria stands as one of the greatest medical feats the country has ever recorded.
Ebola virus has been on the prowl in few African countries and has decapitulated their population severely. Its entry into the Nigerian especially the city of Lagos would have spelt mass murder if it was not curbed instantly as it did in Liberia, Sierra lone and Congo.
Ebola recorded a martyr within its few hours in Nigeria. Yes some people died, a few of them but a specialist medical doctor Dr. Stella Adadevoh paid dearly for the life of Lagosians and Nigerians at large. Being in charge of the hospital, First Consultant Clinic where the carrier of the Ebola virus patient – Liberian American Patrick Sawyer was admitted, she made sure he never left the room where he was. It was on record that the Liberian ambassador prevailed on Dr. Stella Adadevoh to discharge Mr. Sawyer being a diplomat for official engagements, she acted accordingly seeing that his health situation will spell doom for Nigerians if he mixes with our populace.
Although before it became glaring to the medical team of First Consultant Clinics in Lagos that Liberian American diplomat Patrick Sawyer is a carrier of the highly deadly Ebola virus, he has infected some people in the hospital. Swiftly, the Lagos state Under Mr. Fashola [SAN] in collaboration with the Nigerian ministry of Health under Dr. Onyebuchi Chukwu deployed the most wonderful preventive medical onslaught and got the virus contained in few weeks. The medical idea of isolating suspected victims and consequently treating them comprehensively worked beyond the imagination of many even the international bodies.
In recent times, the whole of Nigeria has never witnessed the nature of fear the news of Ebola came with. Eating out reduced drastically, attending social events were discouraged even the Catholic Church in Nigeria officially suspended the act of hand shaking and hugging. Part of the information given was that Ebola could be contracted via meat, the populace were warned severely to stop eating bush meat and Suya which are special delicacies in the nation.
It is on record that if not for the gallant and heroic act of Dr. Adadevoh, thousands of people would have gone to the great beyond. She went to the extent of going physical against Patrick Sawyer when he attempted to leave his room by force. She wedged him from leaving the room thereby coming in direct contact with the virus as she touched him in the process without prior medication. She died few days later of the same virus. But she made sure all relevant agencies and governmental agencies were alerted about this patient and his antics thereby pulling the forces that took steps to curtail the virus from spreading.
Dr. Stella Adadevoh, we will forever remember your selfless sacrifice. Rest In Peace.