A Nigerian woman, Carol Jamabo, has died of the coronavirus (COVID-19) in the United Kingdom, reportedly becoming the first healthcare worker to be identified publicly after succumbing with the virus.
The 56-year-old worked as a carer in the community for Cherish Elderly Care in Bury, Greater Manchester, but fell ill around a week before her death last Wednesday, Daily Mail reports.
Jamabo, a mother of two, moved to the UK from Nigeria in the early 1990s. She has served the public as a care worker for over 25 years.
She previously worked in both the prison service and as an NHS administrator at Guy’s and St Thomas’ Hospital NHS Foundation Trust in London.
The devout Christian moved to Bury to be closer to her two children, Tonye Selema, 25, and Abiye Selema, 22.
According to the family, Abiye, a student at Leeds University, has also now tested positive for the virus.
Ms Jamabo was taken to a hospital after she fell ill. She did not have any major underlying health conditions except asthma.
Her nephew, Dakuro Fiberesima, from Purfleet, Essex, said she was transferred to an intensive care unit and put on a ventilator at Salford Royal Hospital when her condition worsened.
“It happened so rapidly. No one was by her side. With the ventilator decision, you just get a call they are planning to turn the ventilator off,” Mr Fiberesima said.
“You wonder if you were there, whether that would make a difference? She was such a popular person, there would have been people there to fight her corner so to speak.
“The youngest son is in a terrible position. He was extremely close to her. He was living with her. She was just an amazing aunt.”
Fiberesima has opened a Go Fund Me account to seek help for the family to pay for her funeral costs.
“She was a fun loving person with many friends and will be remembered for her uplifting, joyful and enthusing personality,” he wrote in a tribute to her.
Over £5,260 has been raised for the family, surpassing the target of £4,500 required to pay for the funeral.
