Adadevoh: A Tribute

In the time of troubles and challenges, God always
anoints and positions  men and women of courage and bravery to surmount  troubles  and avert the challenges. In ancient Israel, God used David to deliver his people, the Israelites, from the Philistines’ giant, called Goliath. In many ways and different times, God has used many courageous  men and women to save their nations from one problem or the other.
Recently in Nigeria on July 20, 2014, to be precise, God used  Dr Stella Ameyo Folashade Adadevoh,a courageous and thorough bred woman to avert the national  disaster that would have befallen  our nation from the deadly Ebola virus disease. Fearlessly, she discharged that great task with patriotism, diligence, and professionalism, and in the process saved millions of lives that would have been infected with the deadly virus.
Omniscience God knew the impending national catastrophe  the  Ebola  virus diseased would  pose to Nigeria, and may have surveyed and weighed  Nigerian doctors and found Dr. Adadevoh worthy and capable of handling the onerous task. God then positioned and stationed her appropriately for the eventuality.
Then, on that black Sunday, being July 20, 2014, a courier of “Congo Sickness” commonly known as Ebola Virus Disease, Patrick Sawyer, arrived Nigerian  shores with Ebola, mother of all ailments, all the way from Murtala Mohammed Airport, Ikeja, Lagos and landed in the first consultants Medical Centre at Obalende, Lagos where our medical heroine and warrior was holding sway  as a senior consultant.
Like a wounded lion,  she quickly intercepted, arrested and tamed Sawyer. She  thoroughly caged him, the agent of death and vehemently resisted and damned the pressure mounted on her by Sawyer’s  conspirators both in Liberia and in Nigeria to release  him claiming that he had important  role to play at ECOWAS convention in Calabar, Cross Rive State.
By that singular act, brave Adadevoh saved not only Nigerians, but also many prominent personalities who would have been infected with Ebola virus disease by his presence and exchange of pleasantries, mostly their prime targets at the convention. Sawyer later died under cage in her hospital on July 25, 2014. It is indeed a testimony that despite our inadequacies and ungodliness, God still loves Nigeria. Is it not amazing that while Nigerian doctors had abandoned their nation’s health care services and sick Nigerians for a nationwide strike, God positioned Dr. Adadevoh to  deliver Nigeria from the calamitous Ebola plague.
Unfortunately, Dr. Adadevoh contracted the virus from Sawyer. She was taken to the Case Management Centre at Yaba, Lagos,  for treatment and she died  on August 19, 2014. Her was cremated (burnt) by  the Lagos State Government  and her ashes obtained by the family for proper burial.
The family said they obtained her ashes  and decided to accord  her a befitting burial even though her body was cremated to ensure that nobody mocked and asked the family, particularly the only child in future, where is Ameyo’s grave? So, on September 12, 2014, the remains of this quintessential medical doctor, who combined bravery, beauty and brain was committed to mother earth.
Over 2,000 people  from all walks of life trooped in to witness her interment in Lagos. Her husband, the only son and her siblings, who wore sad and mournful countenance all through were  also there. Although, they were consoled and glad that Dr. Adedevoh brought honour  and dignity to their families, and that her death was not in vain. Many who spoke at the funeral service concurred that she sacrificed  her life  for Nigeria, and  thus  deserved our appreciation and honour. They, however, called on the Federal and Lagos State Governments to honour Dr. Adadevoh without delay.
In his vote of thanks, her son, Bankole  Cardoso, said his mum paid  ultimate price to contain  the spread of Ebola  virus disease in Nigeria. He thanked Nigerians for their  support  and the glowing  tributes paid to his late mother.
A woman of superb pedigree,  late Dr. Stella Ameyo Folashade Adadevoh was born on  October 27, 1956 into the famous  families of Adadevoh, Herbert  Macaulay, Bishop Samuel  Ajayi Crowther and  Nnamdi Azikiwe, all of blessed memories.
Dr. Adadevoh graduated as a medical  doctor from the University of Logos in 1980 at the age 24. She worked in various hospitals and other health care services in Nigeria before proceeding  abroad for series  of medical courses.  She returned to Nigeria and later joined the First Consultants Medical Centre at Obalende, Lagos and  rose to the position of senior or lead consultant physician  and endocrinologist. It was there that she encountered  Patrick Sawyer, the first Ebola, virus patient in Nigeria. She  contracted  the virus  and succumbed to the deadly disease. Dr. Adadevoh, Nurse Justina  and others fought gallantly to save our nation from the infectious Ebola disease, and thus deserved national honour. May their souls rest in peace.
Ogbuehi is a journalist  and human  rights activist.

Prince  Ogbuehi