Opinion: Life lessons from Stella Adadevoh’s heroism

by Afam Ikeakanam

In March 2014, when the World Health Organisation (WHO) officially declared there was an outbreak of the Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) in Guinea, Nigeria had no idea what was coming for her.

The disease then rapidly spread like wildfire to the neighbouring countries of Liberia and Sierra Leone. As with every tragic foreign headline, Nigerians empathised with the affected nations, prayed for the eradication of the virus and the quick recuperation of the victims.

On the fateful July 20th, 2014, the EVD landed on our shores. Mr. Patrick Sawyer, who happened to be the index case in Nigeria, defied medical advice and flew into Lagos State from Liberia. Upon collapsing on arrival at the airport, Mr. Sawyer was rushed to First Consultant Hospital, Obalende and was treated accordingly.

Five days after, he died of the virus. From that day, the Nigerian government and people took concerted steps to contain the disease, which culminated in the WHO’s declaration on October 20, 2014 of Nigeria being free of Ebola. By Mr. Sawyer’s singular act of flying into Nigeria, 20 persons were infected with the virus and eight were snatched by the cold hands of death.

The history books of Nigeria will not forget in a hurry the gallant and patriotic act of Dr. Stella Ameyo Adadevoh. If not for her valiant act, the casualties would have been much more than what were recorded. Dr. Adadevoh was the superheroine who laid down her life for the health and safety of her fellow nationals. Having contracted the virus from Mr. Sawyer, she died on August 19, 2014. How time flies!

It is already the second anniversary of her demise. Since then, she has received numerous posthumous awards for her dedication, professionalism and patriotism. The significance of her actions, and those of the medical staff who treated the victims, cannot be exaggerated.

If Dr. Adadevoh were to be in a more developed nation, her action might not have been heralded with much pomp and pageantry as it was here in Nigeria. From Dr. Adadevoh’s exploit and the coordinated manner in which the government handled the malady, flow a plethora of lessons for the Nigerian people.

Dr. Adadevoh’s insistence that Mr. Sawyer be restrained from leaving the hospital was nothing more than doing her job as a medical practitioner. As a medical doctor, it was her duty to abide by the hallowed ethics of her profession which show respect for the sanctity of human life and selfless service to humanity. I am not downplaying the weightiness of her action; it only shows how common dereliction of, and nonchalance towards one’s job have become in Nigeria.

If Dr. Adadevoh were to be like most Nigerians, she would have released Mr. Sawyer, not minding the ripple effect of her action. In our horrid Nigerian mentality, she would have said, “Since he is not my relative and he will most likely not come in contact with my loved ones, what is my concern? I cannot come and go and die.”

I dread to imagine the impact of the virus in Nigeria had Dr. Adadevoh not insisted on monitoring Mr. Sawyer’s health. Are you a civil servant who insists on being bribed before attending to someone’s file? Are you a nurse or a doctor who treats patients with disdain? Are you a teacher whose attitude to work is lackadaisical?

We can all be heroes like Dr. Adadevoh if we discharge our duties diligently and wholeheartedly for the common good, not considering what is in it for us. Remember, happiness does not come through selfishness, but through selflessness.

We, Nigerians, cherish our lives more than anything; we can do all it takes to preserve our existence. This is evident from the collaborative efforts taken by the government and people in combating the disease. Public awareness of the causes, symptoms and prevention of the disease became the order of the day. There were series of adverts on television and radio stations in the major languages spoken in the country. The washing of hands became an important ritual and hand sanitizers became people’s steady companion. These go to show how much value we place on our lives.

Must we wait till there is an epidemic before we showcase our love for human lives? If we truly value our lives and those of our neighbours, it must be evident from our daily actions. Are you a politician who has been voted into power to represent the interests of your people? Do you place their interests above yours?

Do you siphon public funds that were earmarked for the construction of roads, hospitals, schools and the provision of potable water? The amount of people whose lives have been shortened by bad infrastructure cannot be compared to those killed by the EVD.

The collaboration between the then Federal and state governments was very impressive and must be emulated by all the governments and people of Nigeria. The People’s Democratic Party was in charge of the central government, while the All Progressives Congress was in power in Lagos State, which was the epicentre of the disease.

The governments’ proactiveness in containing the disease is commendable. The governments forgot about their political differences and put the national interest first. Nigerians in all walks of life must let go of ethnic and religious sentiments which impair our national development.

The 50th anniversary of the deaths of Major General Johnson Aguiyi-Ironsi and Lieutenant Colonel Adekunle Fajuyi was celebrated in July 2016. The narrative of the circumstances of the death of both men should provoke deep nationalistic thoughts in the heart of Nigerians.

It is said that Colonel Fajuyi confronted the attacking soldiers by protecting his guest, General Ironsi, and demanded that his life be taken before that of the General. In today’s Nigeria, how many Muslims can protect Christians from violent attacks? How many Seguns can take a bullet for Emekas? How many Zainabs can go the extra mile to help Mfons?

The United States of America’s imitation of Nigeria’s intense and rapid contact tracing, of those who came in contact with the index case, shows that things can work in Nigeria. Triumphing over the EVD that claimed thousands of lives in some of our neighbouring countries shows Nigeria has the human and material resources it needs to be a great nation if only we have the will, commitment, good value system and right leadership required.

As we remember the sacrifice paid by Dr. Adadevoh, sincere patriotism should be reignited in our hearts. We ought to rise above ethnic, religious and parochial sentiments. We should embrace diligence, professionalism, honesty, selflessness and unity. We should be lost in our service to our fellow Nigerians and nation. In whatever position we find ourselves in, be it as a cobbler, plumber, doctor, teacher, politician, student, farmer, we should carry out our duties passionately for the common good. Our actions and inactions shape our nation. The words of our National Anthem and Pledge should produce a resonance in us. We should ensure “…to serve our fatherland, with love, and strength and faith…to serve with heart and might…” We should also renew our pledge to serve Nigeria, faithfully, loyally and honestly, with all our strength and defend her unity.

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Op–ed pieces and contributions are the opinions of the writers only and do not represent the opinions of Y!/YNaija

Afam Ikeakanam is a final year Law student at the University of Ibadan and can be reached via [email protected].

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