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.
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
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
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.
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