There are growing concerns from a group who referred to themselves as “concerned family members” over the health and handling of A.S. Adadevoh, a medical doctor and chief consultant of the First Consultants Hospital in Lagos, who is being treated for the Ebola Virus Disease (EVD).

Adadevoh, a female doctor, had treated Patrick Sawyer, a Liberian-American EVD patient, without initially knowing that the patient was suffering from that ailment, until confirmation from a laboratory test.

The concerned group observed that Adadevoh was critically ill and could receive better care than she was currently getting.

They alleged that at the medical facility in Yaba, Lagos, where the doctor was being treated and others were under quarantine, basic amenities such as water were in short supply.

They also complained of a shortage of manpower at the facility. The added that there was an American doctor helping out at the facility and that he was currently overworked.

The group called a press conference in Lagos yesterday.

Speaking for the group, Ladi Okuboyejo, a consultant physician, said there was need for the international community to come into the country and work to ensure that the disease is contained and stemmed at this early stage.

While commending Adadevoh and other health workers at First Consultants Hospital, Obalende, Lagos, who reported the case of Patrick Sawyer to the appropriate health authorities, Okuboyejo said a lot more needed to be done to address the situation so that it does not get out of control in the country.

“We have been following closely and know some of the individuals that are being quarantined and it is beyond what we can deal with right now. This disease is new to us in the country and we have never been involved in containing this kind of outbreak.

“There is the need for the international community to come and assist Nigeria to halt the spread of the disease.

“I know that the Federal Government is trying its best but there is a lot more we can do to address this situation. Nigeria is too big to be ignored. This disease is new to us in Nigeria and there are experts globally that have experience in treating Ebola globally.

“We need to tap into their expertise in country. It is a learning curve for everyone,” Okuboyejo added.

Helen Boyo-Ekwueme, consultant pathologist, agreed with Okuboyejo’s position that the US should assist Nigeria in containing the spread of EVD, as the late Sawyer is one of its citizens who came down with the virus.

“What we need is appropriate facilities and personnel to help administer medicare to those that are under quarantine. We are afraid, as those quarantined are now voiceless; nobody to talk to them,” she said.

•Text courtesy of BusinessDay. Photo shows Health Minister, Prof. Onyebuchi Chukwu.

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