By Tobi Alli
Lagos state Governor,Babatunde Fashola, on September 18,2014, hosted some Ebola survivors in his office at the state Secretariat in Alausa, Ikeja.
The survivors included the widow of the late Port Harcourt doctor, Dr Emenuo Kelechi, Dr Ibeawuchi Morris,Dr Fadipe Akinniyi, Mr. Dennis Akagha (late Nurse Justina Ejelonu’s fiance) and Dr Adaora.
Fashola called for a minute’s silence in honour of those who lost their lives to Ebola, and commended the courage of the survivors for coming out in public to share their experience, while condemning the stigmatization some have experienced.
He stated: ‘We sympathise with you for the trauma that you went though. Perhaps it was avoidable. But I am sure that hard lessons have been learnt. Beyond that, I must congratulate you the survivors of EVD. I felicitate with you and members of your family and friends. But most importantly, I thank you so much for coming forward because you took a great decision and you showed so much courage. And you have helped us to take the next step forward. You have helped us to put an end to the spread of the EVD. I am sure that from today, people, especially those who are victims wherever they maybe, will be encouraged to come forward and seek help. And that people who stigmatise them can change their approach.Sick people need help, care, love and affection. They do not need to be discriminated against. Perhaps many of those who stigmatise people with diseases will learn from the testimonies that you have given about people like Dr. David (the American WHO doctor who led the medical team at the Yaba isolation centre).
‘He risked everything so that you all can be alive. That is the way we should behave as human beings. The truth is that this will not be the last infectious disease that human civilisation will experience. At one point, there was no cure for cholera, influenza and others. So in a global world, the list will not end. It is courageous men and women like Dr. David, organisations like the CDC (l)and WHO, the Ministry of Health and health workers like you who must lead that charge to confront such diseases.’
Photo: Nigeria Monitor
