ABUJA – The Commonwealth Medical Association (CMA) on Thursday urged the Federal Government to immortalise heroes of Nigeria’s Ebola story, including Dr Stella Adadevboh.
The association also expressed dissatisfaction over the non-recognition of the contributions of medical and health personnel who lost their lives in the fight against Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) in the country.
This is contained in a statement issued in Abuja by the association’s Vice President (West Africa region), Mr Dr Osahon Enabulele.
The statement expressed sadness over government’s non-recognition of deceased health workers in recent national events organised by the federal government.
It said even when the deceased health workers were omitted in the latest national honours, President Goodluck Jonathan also failed to recognise their heroics in his Independence Day address.
“I feel extremely constrained to express my sadness at the cavalier attitude with which the memory of Dr Stella Ameyo Adadevoh and other health workers felled by Ebola in Nigeria was attended to in the Independence Day address of Mr President.
“Whereas it was painful enough that the recent National Honours Awards list missed out the names of Dr (Mrs) Stella Ameyo Adadevo and other heroic health workers who stood firm against the Ebola Virus Disease in Nigeria. [eap_ad_1] “I was deeply shocked that the opportunity of President Jonathan’s Independence Day speech was not used to reassure Nigerians of the possible plans by the Federal Government to bestow national recognition and post-humous honours on the deceased health workers.”
The statement said the act could constitute a disincentive to already demoralised health workers who put their lives on the line in times of national emergencies.
Besides, the statement called on Jonathan to declare to Nigerians government’s plans to honour the deceased health workers.
“The actions of government manifested in the non-recognition of Dr (Mrs) Stella Adadevoh and other fallen health workers may act as further disincentive to an already demoralized medical and health workforce in Nigeria, with tremendous implications for health service delivery.
“Surely, the expeditious conferment of these post-humous honours will add to the list of accomplishments presented by Mr President in his October 1st, 2014 Independence Day address,’’ said the association. (NAN)
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