AbuSidiqu-Since the news broke out about the American-Liberian, Patrick Sawyer who transported the deadly Ebola Virus into Nigeria and has so far claimed the lives of 5 persons with at least 4 still in the hospital, there has been report as to what really transpired when Sawyer was rushed to the First Cosultants Hospital, Obalende, Lagos. Some reports have stated that Sawyer attempted to escape from the hospital, but a letter personally written by the heroic Doctor Stella Adadevoh, who unfortunately died a few days ago reveals that she was under pressure to release Sawyer. Good thing however is that she stood her ground and Nigeria today have her to be grateful for.

Below is the letter she wrote to the Federal and Lagos State governments:

“In the interest of our patients, staff, the general public the nation at large we state the following:

A 40-years old gentlemen came into the hospital with symptoms suggestive of Malaria (Fever, headache, extreme weakness) on Sunday night (20th July 2014). He was fully conscious and gave us his clinical history and told us he is a Senior Diplomat from Liberia. Laboratory investigations confirmed malaria whilst other test for HIV, Hepatitis B&C were negative. He was admitted and treatment commenced.

However, due to the fact that he was not responding to treatment but rather was developing haemorrhagic symptoms we further questioned him. He denied having been in contact with any persons with EVD (Ebola Virus Disease) at home, in any hospital or at any burial.

In spite of this denial we immediately decided to do the following:

1. To conduct further tests for possible Infectious Haemorrhagic Disease, especially EBOLA VIRUS DISEASE, based on the fact that he was a Liberian citizen and the recent ourbreak of EBOLA VIRUS DISEASE in that country

2. We immediatrly isolated/quarantined the patient, commenced barrier nursing and simultaneously contacted the Lagos State Ministry of Health and the Federal Ministry of Health to enquire where furthe laboratory tests could be performed as we had a high index of suspicion of possible EBOLA VIRUS DISEASE

3. WE REFUSED FOR HIM TO BE LET OUT OF THE HOSPITAL IN SPITE OF INTENSE PRESSURE, AS WE WERE TOLD THAT HE WAS A SENIOR ECOWAS OFFICIAL AND HAD AN IMPORTANT ROLE TO PLAY AT THE ECOWAS CONVENTION IN CALABAR, CROSS RIVER STATE.

4. The initial test results from LUTH laboratory indicated a signal of possible EBOLA VIRUS DISEASE, but required confirmation.

5. We then took the further step of reaching out to Senior Officials in the office of the Secretary of Health of the United States of America who promptly assisted us with contacts at thecentres for Disease Control (CDC) and World Health Organisation Regional Laboratory Centre in Senegal.

6. Working jointly with the State, Federal Agencies and Internaional Agencies, we were able to obtain confirmation of EBOLA VIRUS DISEASE (ZAIRE STRAIN), (W.H.O. Regional Center Lab-Senegal/Redeemes lab/LUTH Laboratory)

7. The gentleman subsequently died on Friday at a 6.50 (25th July, 2014)

8. All agencies were promptly notified and in consultation with W.H.O, Regional EBOLA VIRUS DISEASE Centre in Conakry, Guinea and Best Practices, the following was commenced:

a. Orderly temporay shut down of the hospital with immediate evacuation of in house patients

b. The appropriate professional removal of the body and its incineration wunder W.H.O. guidelines witnessed by all appropriate agencies.

9. Having concluded the above, it is now appropriate to give this Press release in the interest of our partient, staff, the general public and the nation at large.

10. In keeping with W.H.O, guidelines, hospitals is shut down briefly as full decontamination exercise is currently in progress W.H.O. Guidelines

In conclusion working with the STATE, FEDERAL AND INTERNATIONAL AGENCUES, we were able to identify and confirm the diagnosis of the EBOLA VIRUS DISEASE. We hope that by our action of preventing this gentleman from being extracted from our hospital and traveling to Calabar we have been able to prevent the spread of EBOLA VIRUS DISEASE in Nigeria.

The Board and Management of the Hospital wish to thank all our staff members for their diligence and professionalism.

Thank You.

Signed

Dr.B.N.OHIAERI

DR.A.S.ADADEVEOH

First Consultants Medical Centre Limited

16/24 Ikoyi Road,

Obalende,

Lagos

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Patrick Sawyer’s Wife Apologises for the Death of Dr. Adadevoh

By Leadership

Widow of the late Liberian, Patrick Sawyer, the man who brought the deadly Ebola disease to Nigeria, Mrs. Decontee Sawyer, yesterday said that she shared the pains of the family of Dr Ameyo Stella Adedavoh, the female doctor who attended to Sawyer.

Responding to an email query by our correspondent, Mrs. Sawyer added that it was painful that the late Sawyer caused so much damage in both his country Liberia and Nigeria with the Ebola virus.

Mrs Sawyer said: “I share the pains that the family members of the Nigerian doctor are going through. It is just a pity that Patrick had to cause this damage both in Liberia and Nigeria.”

Speaking in a letter obtained by our correspondent yesterday, Mrs Sawyer, a resident of Minnesota, USA, apologised for the seeming heartlessness of her open letter, asking Nigerians to be mindful of her daughters, and not curse the Sawyer name, even if they curse Patrick Sawyer.

The US-based widow of the first Ebola victim in Nigeria opened up on their private life, and how Mr Sawyer moved in with another woman in Liberia, abandoning her while she was seven-month pregnant.

She blamed what she termed ‘bigmanism’ for the decayed health system of Liberia and the high number of deaths in the country.

“I want to reach out to them and express how deeply saddened and sorry I am for their loss and their pain. I do apologise if my words have cost anyone who is grieving more pain. I fall on my knees and ask God for his healing power for all of those who are still infected with Ebola. I pray for all of the families whose loved ones were taken away

by this merciless killer Ebola, especially those affected by Patrick’s actions.

“Ebola didn’t start with Patrick in Liberia, as we both know. Ebola was in Liberia from a traveller from Guinea since February of this year. The government knew about it and did nothing. Many Liberians, including me, called out to the government then to close the borders. They didn’t do so until one of their own, Patrick (Sawyer), died in July.

“Many people died before Patrick and their lives were just as

important. That is my frustration. Ebola didn’t have to go to Nigeria, Africa’s most populated country, had the Liberian government taken drastic actions sooner. I, too, have family members and friends in Nigeria, and now they are at risk because of Patrick’s actions.

“In spite of my anger and disappointment with him, I don’t believe that he did this with evil intent (I could be wrong). I believe his actions were that of a desperate man. And sad for everyone involved, Nigeria was closer than the U.S. This is just my take on what he could have been thinking (of course, I could be wrong).

“My regret is that I was so caught up in my own pain and frustration, that I neglected to see the pain of the innocent people both in Liberia and Nigeria who are affected by Patrick’s actions. For that, I am deeply sorry. The last thing I wanted to do was to cause them pain.

It is a pain I know. It is a pain I don’t want them to have.”

Decontee, a mother of three, further said that she couldn’t

apologize for Patrick’s actions because she did not cause them, stressing that the late Ebola victim did a lot of things she did not like.

She added that: “Going to Nigeria was one of them. His act was one of a desperate man. Many Nigerians and Liberians are affected because of that act of desperation,” she said.