Shame

Jonathan.. PDP and their campaign of shame
At vaious rallies across Nigeria, ruling
party politicians have continued to cite
Nigeria’s success on the virus as among
the achievements of President Goodluck
Jonathan and the ruling Peoples’
Democratic Party.
“I have heard some stories emanating
from campaign podiums with claims of
conquering Ebola,” said Mr. Fashola.
“The question we must ask is whether
those who make these claims saw Ebola?
“It is women like Stella Ameyo Adedevoh
to whom such a claim rightly belongs.
“It is young Nigerians like Dr. Morris
Ibeawuchi, who first made contact with
the index case patient and continued to
treat him who saw and conquered Ebola.
“He got infected, from doing his job, got
sick, survived and is back to his job.
“It is first responders from the Lagos State
Ministry of Health like Dr. Jide Idris, Dr.
Yewande Adesina, Dr. Wale Ahmed, Dr.
Kayode Oguntimehin who saw Ebola.
“They responded to the call from First
Consultant Hospital. They spent 12
(Twelve) hours daily in the early days
supervising the construction of Ebola
containment facility when the epidemic
broke.
“The Lagos State Infectious Disease
Hospital which later became the epicenter
of Ebola management used to house
tuberculosis patients and patients with
infectious diseases.
“Those patients vented their anger on
these people when they had to be moved
to create room for the Ebola centre. I
know they spat at Dr. Adesina for doing
her job.
“Dr. Abdul-Salam Nasidi of the National
Disease Control Centre in Abuja saw and
conquered Ebola. He helped in no small
way to co-ordinate the containment.
“Dr. David Brett-Mayor of the World
Health Organization saw and conquered
Ebola. He single handedly started the
Ebola isolation ward having cleared and
cleaned the room. He admitted and cared
for the patients before any Nigerian
doctor joined him.
“Professor S. A. Omilabu, the dedicated
virologist at LUTH, saw Ebola and
conquered it. He coordinated the fault
free testing for Ebola and managed all the
samples professionally.
“Peter Adewuyi saw Ebola and conquered
it. He led the contact tracing team of
many dedicated officers for the first 2
(two) weeks.
“Mrs. Funmi Lagbokun, Mrs. Modupe
Aiyedun Davies, Mrs. Basirat Adeoye, Ms
F. O. Bamgboye, Mrs. K. O. Oshisanya,
Mrs. Kazeem Abioye, Mrs. Abiola Lasaki
and Mrs. K. Adeshina all saw and
conquered Ebola.
“They were the dedicated team of nurses,
nursing aid, care giver, health assistant
and hygienist who commenced work
voluntarily in the Ebola containment
ward without any demand other than the
sense of duty.
“Yemi Gbadegesin and Abdulsalam saw
and conquered Ebola.
“They coordinated the de-contamination,
removal and burial of the index case and
other cases, and it is because of them that
First Consultant can re-open for business.
“Dear Lagosians, these were the people
who saw and defeated Ebola. Let no
person tell you otherwise.
“These men and women, who showed
courage, who risked their lives are our
true champions and heroes.
“They showed the spirit of service, the
spirit of Lagos and the spirit of our “good
old days”.
“Nobody should take this credit away
from them.
“They are not celebrating because they
know that the work is not finished. They
are already working with our people and
planning to volunteer to go and give help
in Sierra Leone and Liberia.
“Their reward for hard work will be more
work and they tell me that they are
ready,” Mr. Fashola added.