I never contacted his
fluids. I checked his vitals, helped him with his food (he was too
weak)…..I basically touched where his hands touched and dats d only
contact. not directly with his fluids. @ a stage, he yanked off his
infusion and we had blood everywhere on his bed…..but d ward maids took
care of that and changed his linens with great precaution. Every patient
is treated as high risk ….if it were airborne, by now wahala for dey. i
still thank God. Friends, up to our uniforms and all linens were burnt
off. We are on surveillance and off work till 11th. Our samples v long
bn taken by WHO n so far we v been fine.
Ms. Ejelonu's last Facebook post
How Many Of us Remembered That Yesterday Was Another Year Gone by
since we lost Nurse Justina Ejelonu. Nurse Justina Ejelonu attended to
Patrick Sawyer, a Liberian-American Ebola carrier who brought the
disease to Nigeria, she passed away in a quarantine facility in Lagos
after contacting the dreaded disease from him.
Until her death, the outspoken nurse, who worked at the B Ward – a
male ward which was referred to as Ebola Ward – of the Yaba Mainland
General Hospital, was at the center of a campaign to get the Zmapp
experimental drugs to Ebola victims in Nigeria.
Ms. Ejelonu, 25, was one of the primary contacts with Patrick Sawyer
at a Lagos Hospital where he received treatment after he was rushed from
the Murtala Muhammed Airport in Lagos where he collapsed.
John Okiyi Kalu 17th August 2014 wrote on her death a pain filled
article titled: Nigeria Failed Nurse Justina Obioma Ejelonu....and the
World Didnt Care Either. Here are excepts from the write up:
Most of us didn't meet Justina in real life (and now will never) but
we belong to same online group, Igboville/Oganiru Ndigbo Foundation.
While the group was preparing for a free medical service program at Aba
in December 2013, Obioma (Justina) volunteered to be among the nurses
that will attend to the patients, free of charge. She was really excited
about offering her services free, to save lives. It was in the build up
and preparation for the event, successfully held at Aba on 27th
December 2013, that we got to interact more closely, online. She was
always available at the medical service committee thread to make
suggestions and liven up the thread with jokes and banters. Naturally,
all the members of the team knew this lively nurse working then at Ijebu
Ode, Ogun State.
Early this year, she moved
to Lagos to resume at First Consultant Hospital Obalende. Her
excitement was palpable even as she contacted one of our chapter
executives to help get her accommodation in Lagos as well as introduce
her to some Lagos based Igboville members. As expected, he did his best
for her in fulfillment of our slogan "onye aghana nwanne ya" (don't
leave your brother/sister behind). She relocated to Lagos and resumed at
her new station.
Her later posts at the
group and her facebook wall confirmed she was enjoying her new
experience at the high brow Lagos hospital. Until the 25th of July when
she made this post at Igboville wall:
"Friends,
thank
God for me o. i had a close contact with the first Ebola case in
Nigeria..:.Long story cut short, God saved me dearly. join me in
thanking God.
(Jul 25th 2014)
In an article posted on August 14th 2016, Nurse OMOLOLA ADAMS OLATAYO wrote the following about our lost colleague:
Nurse JUSTINA showed to the world that nursing profession is an
humanitarian profession, an accolade of human dignity, a susceptible to
danger profession, selflessness, caring, empathize, loving and nursing
to peaceful death.
It's already two years
down the memory lane when nurse JUSTINA EJELONU laid down her life for
this country in the course of discharging her professional
responsibilities as a nurse and safeguard Nigeria from been engulfed by
Ebola Virus. The Government has not deem it fit to immortalised this
selfless NURSE, this is sending a bad signal to the younger ones in the
society. Even in United State of America, the sitting president visited
nurses that contracted the disease. That Government has concerned for
its citizen and many are willing to do the same in thier respective
endeavours. When will Nigeria government accord due recognitions to its
faithful, selfless and dedicated citizens?
NURSE JUSTINA EJELONU, you shall remain in our hearts forever, even if
the government see nothing good in laying down your life, The Nigeria
Nurses see extraordinary manifest of your nursing care. You shall be
celebrated in the nursing world.
And finally on the 1st of September 2014 Nurse Justina Ejelonu Told her Story from the Grave as written by Nurse Jude Chiedu:
I
had lofty dreams of living a fulfilled live and having kids. My fiancée
and i had fixed our traditional marriage for October, I was two months
pregnant. My name is Justina Ejelonu and this is my story...
Justina is and would always remain the Florence Nightingale Of Our Time.
May Your Soul Rest in Perfect Peace
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