For Dr. Ameyo Adadevoh
We’ve all been focused on Ebola since it came to town. We’ve read up, researched, debated, laid blames, cursed in our typical fashion and now returned to taking greater caution and praying for Nigeria, and West Africa given how borderless the world has become.
I have followed the news on those quarantined, infected with the disease. I was heartbroken when the death of Dr. Ameyo Adadevoh, who was the first doctor to come in contact with the now late Patrick Sawyerr that imported the virus to Nigeria, was announced. We all have been following the news about his wife’s apologies and defense of her late husband. We have also been trailing Dr. Ameyo’s confinement and progress. Hence it was painful for most of us when the news of her demise hits the social media.
Only that morning we had heard from a member of her family an update on radio how she was holding on. “Fragile but holding on” were the words used by her relative who spoke on radio. As I write this, I still remember clearly those words. A little later, the news of her death filtered in.
After her death, Blackberry display pictures and messages were filled with eulogies of her. “Felled in the line of duty’ most of the messages read. Another read: “our Hero, RIP courageous woman.” She’s been repeatedly called our hero and I couldn’t agree more- as we have been made to understand that she was the one who insisted the late Sawyerr should not be released from the hospital when it was confirmed he had Ebola.
Her death reminds me of my theory ‘what is a number count to many’ is a brother or sister or husband, wife or mother to many others. So when the news said ‘a fifth person had died from Ebola’, it took my mind back to in time. A few years ago, when the Afghan war (or was it peace keeping) began, I stumbled on a documentary on a UK channel, that made my ‘number theory more real’. It was a documentary about young soldiers who had passed on in war.
It showed how the news was broken to their families and the many emotions they felt thereafter. As a result every family dreaded a visit from a uniformed staff. They knew immediately what such visit meant. Such visit can only mean the death announcement of another soldier.
As expected the death of the soldier was follow by all manner of speeches that described his bravery. “He was a gallant soldier who fought to defend the country,” the speaker would say. Of course the families of the dead would first agree and appreciate the work done in honor of their country. However, thereafter they would become resentful at the price their relative had paid.
I think the phrase ‘hazards of the job’ became more graphic to me after that. This also brings to mind one of the chatters we had in one of the groups I belong. Someone had postulated that nothing is free in life, nothing at all. Whether it is the chocolates we eat or the peace we enjoy within communities. Someone has given up something to ensure we have that. Even the chocolates we eat involved the labour of a young child somewhere who should be in school and not harvesting cocoa.
‘Thank you’ is could not be the right phrase for the Adadevohs at this time. I’m not sure hurting families want to be thanked. Perhaps it is just a simple recognition of a great sense of decisiveness and courage to do the right thing.
For being a consultant, she knew firsthand what was before her and she did the right thing. Her passing is such an anticlimax. It was supposed to be the icing on our cake, the affirmation that we are able to surmount this potential pandemic, a confirmation that the worst was over.
A lot of great work is being done by many agencies and corporates but we still owe ourselves to keep informing, keep educating, as prevention is often the best solution for scourges like this. Whilst we keep at this, we’d like also to acknowledge and celebrate this great Dr. Ameyo Stella Adadevohs , we’d like also to pray that God should comfort her family at this time, asking that her name, her memory will always be a blessing. Keep safe.
Nkiru Olumide-Ojo