Elie Minema: Survivor of Ebola wey dey on di edge of medical history
From surviving Ebola to maybe becoming di last known patient wey dey record, dis young man recovery afta di recent outbreak for DRC na turning point for di kontri long battle.
Elie Minema Katumbayi na person wey survive Ebola. Now, na 42 days dey between am and medical history.
Di 21-year-old farmer from Congo waka commot from treatment centre for Bulape on October 19 as di last confirmed patient for di outbreak wey kill 34 people for Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).
If dem no see new case by early December, e recovery go mark di end of di six-week crisis for one of di country remote area dem.
Dis one fit even mean say Minema go be di last Ebola patient wey dem record – and if e happen, e go be big reward for di healthcare teams wey dey fight di stubborn and dangerous virus.
For Minema case, di fever wey nearly kill am start without any sign as e dey work for farm. "I force myself go house," na wetin e talk.
By di time wey e reach di gate of him house, di papa of three no fit stand again. "My body don weak finish. Na my friends help me carry my bag enter house," e tell TRT Afrika.
Wetin follow na quick sickness wey show am how serious di disease be, as Ebola dey known for high death rate.
"I no believe say na me go get Ebola," e tell World Health Organisation (WHO) team after dem discharge am.
Di sickness dey quick
Doctors talk say wetin make Ebola deadly na how quick person condition fit spoil. Di normal symptoms na fever, body weakness, muscle pain, headache and sore throat, wey fit later turn to vomiting, diarrhoea and stomach pain.
Bleeding dey happen sometimes, but e no dey common and e dey show later. Ebola dey kill half of di people wey catch am for every outbreak.
Minema, wey be preacher when e no dey farm, believe say na only God fit save am. "I dey thank God, di President and di government wey send ambulance come carry me," e talk. "If una no act quick, all of us for don die."
For di hospital wey dem treat am, di young man dey fear as e dey see patients around am dey die. "Most of di patients wey I see for di hospital die," Minema talk, as e voice low.
Even though di official death count na 34, WHO no rule out say Ebola fit cause another 11 deaths.
Lucky survivors
Minema na one of di 19 people wey survive among di 53 confirmed cases since health authorities for DRC announce di outbreak for Bulape on September 4.
"Di recovery of di last patient just six weeks after di outbreak na big achievement wey show say teamwork and expertise fit help save lives," na wetin Dr Mohamed Janabi, WHO regional director for Africa, talk.
Di work no easy because Bulape dey for bush area wey no easy to reach.
Even with di bad road and wahala, di country health ministry, with WHO and other partners, quick quick arrange response. Dem build 32-bed treatment centre sharp sharp, and dem vaccinate over 35,000 people.
WHO and di partners still dey ground, dey work with government to make sure say dem fit detect and respond to any new case quick quick as di countdown dey go.
Minema don go back house to him family and community, dey thank God for everything wey save him life. E go happy well well if e hear say na him be di last person wey survive Ebola wahala.