Nurse Justina Ejelonu Tells her Story From The Grave By 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.
I was ecstatic when i secured a job at first consultant hospital in Lagos. On the day i was to resume officially, I was reluctant since i had started experiencing morning sickness. I finally got myself together and resumed on the 21st of July.
In an unfortunate twist of fate, my first patient was a Liberian senior diplomat named Patrick sawyer. A 40 year old man with complaints of fever, headache, extreme weakness and haemorrhagic symptoms. Patrick died on Friday the 25th of July, it took the joint collaboration of the state, federal and international agencies to confirm he died from the Ebola virus (zaire strain). Our hospital was temporarily shut down
On the 25th of July, i updated my facebook wall and wrote “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”. The next day i posted this update on my facebook wall “”Friends,up to our uniforms and all linens were burnt off. We are on surveillance and off work till 11th.
Our samples have long been taken by WHO and so far we have been fine. For me, kudos to my hospital management because we work professionally with every patient considered risk because that’s the training. Had it been its a hospital where they manage risky patients with ordinary gloves like Government hospitals and some Janjaweed private hospital..:lol….wahala for dey o. I must also thank Lagos Govt….infact! Even federal govt self….all have been supportive. I’m good and so are the others in the hospital…
