Dr. Mrs. Stella Adadevoh, was born in Lagos in October 1956. Her father was Babatunde Adadevoh, a professor of chemical pathology and, between 1978 and 1980, the vice-chancellor of the University of Lagos. She lived most of her life in Lagos, spending the last 21 years working at the First Consultant hospital in Obalende, Lagos.
Dr Stella Ameyo Adadevoh raised a red flag when attending to a Liberian patient at the First Consultant Hospital in Lagos, in July 2014. An already sick Patrick Sawyer had just flown into the country and should never have been allowed on the plane.
The commendable thing to note is that before Sawyer, Nigeria had never had an Ebola case before so it was an impressive piece of diagnostic work.
It has been suggested that Mr Sawyer, who had already lost a sister to Ebola, was not interested in medical assistance as he had set his mind on visiting one of Nigeria's popular Pentecostal churches in search of a cure from one of the so-called miracle pastors. During those early days caring for Mr Sawyer whilst awaiting the result of the blood test, Dr Adadevo came under intense pressure to let him leave - a move that could have had catastrophic consequences.
Whilst caring for Mr Sawyer and protecting the nation from the virus, Dr Adadevoh and her colleagues were themselves at great risk. Dr. Adadevoh was infected when she forcefully restricted Mr. Sawyer to his bed after he tried to remove the drip administered on him. Her action in all likelihood saved many Nigerian lives because, if Sawyer had succeeded in forcing himself out of the hospital, it would have been difficult to trace those who had contact with him.
Anxiety escalated over her health which necessitated a group of concerned friends, families and associates to seek assistance from the United States of America. The call which attracted attention of the public and government, however, did not yield the much expected result, as she succumbed to the cold hands of death. Spirited efforts to save her life however, proved abortive and she died on the 19th of August 2014.
According to a source, the late Dr Ameyo Adedavoh could not make it due to the serious contact she had with the late Sawyer.
"She tried to fight the disease. She fought a good fight. She saved Nigeria from imminent Ebola epidemic. She was the one that stopped late Sawyer when he became violent and was able to stop him. It is unfortunate we lost her. She is a heroine."
May she continue to rest with the Lord in heaven. Amen.
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