Ebola: Over 2000 Nigerians, others petition Jonathan demanding public honour for Dr Adadevoh

■ Demand public honour for Dr Adadevoh
Hundreds of Nigerians and citizens of other nations have endorsed a petition to Pres­ident Goodluck Jonathan demanding that he should publicly honour Dr Stella Adadevoh who lost her life last Tuesday after treating the late Liberian-American Patrick Sawyer who brought the deadly Ebola virus disease, EVD to Nigeria.
The petition initiated by a London-based Nigerian, Ayo Oyinloye has as at Friday evening generated about 2000 signatures across the world on the website of a US- based Change.org.
The petitioners noted that Dr Adadevoh and another member of her team, Nurse Ejelonu at the First Consultants Medical Centre in Lagos paid the ultimate sacrifice in protecting Nigeria and Nigerians from a worse outbreak of Ebola, adding: “Their vigilance and dedication meant that the Liberian-American Patrick Sawyer did not have the opportunity to spread the virus further before detection.”
They urged President Jonathan “to publicly honour Dr Adadevoh and her team for their vigilance and dedication in preventing a worse outbreak of Ebola Viral Haemorrhagic fever in Nigeria.”
As the petition continues to attract more support and signatures, Nigeria’s finance minister, Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala has commended Dr Adadevoh and other professionals who have made sacrifices to block the spread of the Ebola virus.
According to a statement endorsed by her, she said: “I would like to commend the Nigerian health care professionals who have put their lives on the line to prevent the spread of Ebola in Nigeria.
“Their spirit and determination are embodied in the heroic self-sacrifice of two women, Dr Stella Adadevoh and Nurse Ejelonu who put the wellbeing of all Nigerians ahead of their own when they treated Nigeria’s first case of Ebola and worked to prevent its spread.
“My thoughts are with their families and loved ones as we mourn their passing and celebrate their courage. May they stand as an example to all Nigerians. My condolences also to the families of other victims of Ebola. May the Almighty comfort and grant them strength at this difficult time.”