The Federal Republic of Nigeria is perceived by many as a country
that finds it difficult to recognise and honour its real heroes, whether
in the academia, sports, arts or other endeavours. Rather than honour
them, such heroes are left to wonder what might have been if they were
citizens of countries that reward excellence and service.
Yet,
it is still alarming that President Goodluck Jonathan, the former
president, could send hundreds of brilliant young Nigerians to the jaws
of possible death on a critical mission to stem the tide of the deadly
Ebola Viral Disease (EVD) in West Africa and elect not to appreciate
their gallantry.
Nigerian volunteers who contributed to the African Union
interventions in the Ebola hit countries between December 2014 and May
2015 are, unlike their contemporaries from other countries, yet to
receive any recognition whatsoever from the government for their
meritorious service. But considering that they risked it all (they could
have died), just to help Africa defeat the deadly virus, it is actually
not out of place nor too late to make amends for this failure to give
honour to whom it is due for once.
The heroics of Dr Stella Ameyo Adadevoh, who helped to stop the
spread of Ebola in Nigeria and lost her life in the process, is well
documented and acclaimed worldwide, but at home, the proverbial prophet
still has no honour. Due to Adadevoh’s and many others’ efforts, Just
Ninety three days after the American Liberian, Patrick Sawyer imported
the Ebola Virus Disease into Nigeria, Nigeria was officially declared
Ebola-free.
Volunteers Weren’t Forthcoming
After
Nigeria became Ebola free, the country decided to help with some of its
health experts as the FG made the pledge to the African Union that they
were going to deploy over 500 healthcare workers to assist other Ebola
ravaged African countries battle the menace. This according to multiple
sources almost caused the nation embarrassment as doctors refrained from
volunteering for the dangerous mission. This led the government to
recruit those healthcare workers who worked during the outbreak in Lagos
and Port Harcourt as the core of the team. Few other brave health
workers joined them afterwards.
Greennews.ng spoke with one of the medical doctor
volunteers to the African Union Mission, Dr. Freeman Osonuga on his
reasons for volunteering in spite of the attendant risk. “I only saw it
as an opportunity of being a humanitarian because I had done a lot of
humanitarian work for many years. I just saw it as a way to save fellow
human lives, professionally especially when the continent was in crisis.
So, I volunteered like every other persons. We had about three to four
days training in Lagos. Then we left for our various countries. It was a
chartered aircraft and some of us were dropped in Liberia and others in
Sierra Leone. Sierra Leone was at the peak of their outbreak then. It
was the hot zone of the transmission of the infection. I was deployed to
Serria Lone. I was one of the Doctors that worked in the case
management – (The Doctors that treated the Ebola patients in the
treatment centre).
6 Months After, ‘No Simple Thank You’ From Nigerian Government
Apart
from Nigeria, several other countries sent health workers for the same
mission and upon their return, rolled out the drums in celebration of
their heroes for making their respective countries proud.
In Ghana, President John Mahama honoured the 42 volunteer health
workers made up of 41 Ghanaians and one Cuban with the national award,
Grand Order (Ordinary Division) at a lavish ceremony. Health workers
from Ethiopia and Kenya also got Presidential reception upon their
return as confirmed by a disappointed Dr. Freeman.
He said, “In Ethiopia, for example, when the volunteers came back,
they gave them red carpet reception from the airport with military
parades. Then the Kenyans got presidential reception, they had breakfast
with the president and were nationally honoured. We did so well that
when we were leaving, the President of Sierra Leone and Liberia gave our
volunteers in each of those countries awards. When we came back, there
was not even a welcome ceremony or thank you.
“UK had honoured all of their Ebola volunteers. Most of these people
only worked for weeks. The UK people only worked for about five to six
weeks maximum and they went back to their country. But we were there for
six months and some of us worked for nine months in those high risk
places on a National assignment. It’s really pathetic. Nigeria is not
encouraging us to volunteer more and be more patriotic. It’s a mission
that is as deadly as a war zone. And if you die on that mission that is
the end of it.”
When asked if he was angry with the government for abandoning them
after completing their mission, Dr. Freeman was quick to stress that he
held no grudge with the FG, but he was disappointed nonetheless.
He said, “It’s not as if am mad with the Government. I have had a lot
of media exposure and they have asked me in all of those places about
what the Government was supposed to do and didn’t eventually do. I chose
not to talk about it so it’s not that I’m mad with the Government. But
the Government just need to do what is right. They send people out on a
deadly national mission and they come back with no recognition, it’s
really bad.”
Nigeria Her Own Enemy?
The shabby treatment Nigerian heroes receive from its government is
largely responsible for the low interest of many Nigerians in patriotic
ventures. It is difficult to convince others on the benefits of service
to their country when those who do so often return with tales of
abandonment and lack of gratitude. “You can’t treat people like they
are worthless and expect the best from them. Do you know what it means
to risk your life for your country? I’m not even able to talk about it
internationally or even in the Media that the Government sent me
somewhere for six months on a National assignment and I came back with
no recognition. No thank you, No welcome. It’s a shame and I don’t think
I will want to go for such again,” quipped Dr. Freeman.
Time For Buhari To Act
A lot of Nigerians were pleasantly surprised last November when
President Muhammadu Buhari announced his uncommon decision to reward the
victorious golden eaglets team of 1985 after it was discovered that
they did not get the rewards promised them 30 years earlier. This
chivalrous act should not stop there as the country’s Ebola heroes
remain on the fringes, feeling used and dumped by their country. It will
most certainly not be out of place for the presidency to right this
wrong by making our Ebola heroes feel loved and appreciated.Thanks for reading
