Woman who saved her country from Ebola
How heroic doctor stopped the spread of Ebola in Nigeria
93 Days – Real-life headlines are played out in this thriller as courageous health-care workers in Lagos battle the Ebola outbreak of 2014. Akintola plays the part of the late Dr. Ameyo Adadevoh, who put her life on the line to detain an infected man.
(CNN)As she lay on the hospital bed, weak and coughing, Dr Stella
Ameyo Adadevoh wished her son a happy birthday over the phone.
She asked him about his birthday presents and insisted his dad
buy him a cake, after all, what's a birthday without cake?
Not long after that call she was dead.
This is just one of the scenes in the Nigerian drama film
"93 days" that portrays Adadevoh's caring and motherly nature, even
during her dying moments.
It was this care and heroism that helped prevent the spread of
the deadly Ebola virus in Africa's most populous country in 2014.
"93 Days", which premiered in Lagos Tuesday, is one of
the eight Nigerian films selected for the Toronto International Film Festival.
It tells the true life story of Adadevoh, played by veteran Nigerian actress
Bimbo Akintola, and the medical team at First Consultant Medical Center whose
quick actions saved countless lives
Adadevoh led the team who oversaw the treatment of Patrick
Sawyer, the first patient diagnosed with Ebola in Nigeria. She stopped Sawyer
from leaving the hospital to board a flight to Calabar in southern Nigeria.
Adadevoh also provided staff with relevant information about the
virus, procured protective gear and quickly contacted relevant officials.
Eight people in Nigeria, including Adadevoh, later died.
The film sold out at a screening at the Toronto International
Film Festival and has struck a chord with Nigerians for showing how quickly and
effectively the virus was contained.
"It shed a good light on Nigeria to the world," said
Edewor Ajueshi, who watched the film at the Lagos premiere. "It was a
world crisis at a point ... and we were able to contain it ... it's a good
thing to put it out there so the world can understand that we are also good for
some other things too."
There was some controversy surrounding the film when a letter,
claiming to be from the family of the late doctor, was released saying that the
filmmakers did not have the family's consent or backing.
The producers issued a statement saying that the film is not a
biopic of the late doctor, but a story that "celebrates many heroes of the
fight against Ebola."
The portrayal of heroism, selflessness and sacrifice in the film
is creating a buzz among Nigerians who often complain that their country is
portrayed in a negative light.
"What is spread outside [is] that Nigerians are really
selfish," said Taiye Opatewa, who also watched the film. "She
[Adadevoh] is just the epitome of a typical Nigerian woman who would want to do
all she can for her younger ones... "
"The picture of Nigeria outside is really, really bad...but
this film shows the light that comes out."
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