Stakeholders commend Nigeria’s Ebola-free status

Stakeholders commend Nigeria’s Ebola-free status

PresidentGoodluck Jonathan, the Lagos State Governor, Babatunde Fashola and other stakeholders in the health sector on Monday described the World Health Organisation (WHO)’s declaration of Nigeria as Ebola Virus Disease (EVD)-free country as highly commendable.
WHO representative, Rui Gama Vaz, speaking in the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, said it was a “spectacular success story”.
Monday’s declaration by the WHO that Nigeria is now officially free of the deadly Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) came after 42 days of no incidence of the disease in the country.
The EVD was imported into Nigeria by a Liberian, the late Patrick Sawyer, on July 20, 2014 through the Lagos airport and later died in a private hospital, along with some of its medical staff who treated him.
The outbreak has killed more than 4,500 people in West Africa, mostly in Liberia, Guinea, and Sierra Leone. An estimated 70 per cent of those infected have died in those countries.
The WHO officially declared Senegal Ebola-free on Friday.
President Goodluck Jonathan dedicated the certification to the many patriotic health workers, volunteers and ordinary Nigerians, some of who paid with their lives while working tirelessly to stop the deadly virus that entered the country last July.
While welcoming the news of the country’s new health status President Jonathan commended the contributions of state governments, WHO and other international health organisations, relatives of infected persons and other Nigerians who either courageously underwent the rigours of being quarantined or complied with all directives issued by health authorities to contain the virus.
He pointed out that the globally-acclaimed success against Ebola was a testimony to what Nigerians could achieve if they set aside their differences and work together.
Jonathan, therefore, called on Nigerians to strive to replicate the unity of purpose and all-hands-on-deck approach adopted against Ebola in other areas of national life, said an Aso Rock statement issued hours after the WHO certification was announced.
He, however, warned that despite the euphoria, the entire country must remain fully alert and vigilant against the re-entry of the virus, a view equally expressed by WHO in its congratulatory message to Nigeria that while the country has won a battle against Ebola, the war will only truly end when West Africa, Africa and the world are declared free of Ebola.
“The President consequently directs that all the anti-Ebola measures taken after the entry of the virus into the country should remain in place and that health officials should continue to actively screen persons entering the country through its air, land and sea borders for any sign of the virus.
“He also urges all Nigerians to continue to follow the anti-Ebola advisories on sanitation and personal hygiene issued by Federal and State Health authorities,” said the statement issued by presidential spokesman, Reuben Abati.
Nigeria nearly lost the chance to be declared Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) free country, as a Nigerian was intercepted in a plane in Spain and kept under surveillance for 48 hours. However, the result came out negative.
The Co-ordinator of the Nigerian Centre for Disease Control (NCDC), Abdulsalam Nasidi, disclosed in Abuja, on Monday.
He said: “A Nigerian was stopped in Spain and quarantined claiming that he was shivering in the plane and he was kept under surveillance for 48 hours, the samples collected.
“Had it been his samples came out positive, we would not be celebrating today, but we overcame, his result came out negative.
“So definitely we have the confidence to face WHO and tell them to come and tell the world,” he stated.
The WHO representative, however, warned that Nigeria must continue to remain vigilant for any suspected case and adhere strictly to WHO guidelines.
The WHO representative, however, congratulated Nigeria for the success in halting the EVD.
The Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babatunde Fashola, on Sunday, said the state government was considering sending health care workers to West African countries still battling to contain the deadly Ebola Virus Disease (EVD).
Fashola who gave the hint at the commemoration of his 2,700 days in office held at the Lagos Television Complex added that the state Commissioner for Health would provide details soon.
He said: “Importantly, we must send help to these countries if we truly want to keep the gains we have recorded.
“As I said, our work on Ebola continues because we must do everything to avoid a re-infection.
“We have put many policies in place which the Honourable Commissioner for Health will be communicating to you,” he stated.
Fashola also said: “Some of the lessons learnt are the need for a Government Scientific Adviser to be our co-ordinator not only for providing scientific information about infectious diseases but also co-ordinating other areas of science based research, food sufficiency, water sufficiency, air pollution and all other things that are likely to affect our well-being.
“Therefore, I am announcing the appointment of Dr. Adekemi Oluwayemisi Sekoni as my Chief Scientific Adviser. She will be presented shortly at a formal induction.”
The chairman, Nigeria Medical Association (NMA), Lagos State chapter, Dr. Tope Ojo, said:
“The declaration by WHO is highly commendable.
“Our response to EVD outbreak was quite laudable, taking into consideration the fact that it took collaborative efforts on the part of the state and federal governments, partner agencies, and the public.
“In spite of the strike we had then, we had many volunteers who worked to contain the disease. All of them are members of NMA.”
Ojo said that time was a period of urgent collaboration as a nation. Also speaking, Mr Avoseh Hodewu, the chairman, Lagos State House Committee on Health Services, said: “It is delightful to hear such positive and encouraging declaration from WHO.
The Nigerian Medical Association, Kwara State chapter, described as a welcome development the declaration by the World Health Organisation that Nigeria is free of the dreaded Ebola Virus Disease.
In a media briefing in Ilorin on Monday to mark the 2014 Physicians’ Week, the NMA, Kwara State chapter Chairman, Dr. Ayinla Abubakar, who was represented by his vice, Dr. Olawale Musbau, said the feat was a demonstration that Nigerians are capable of addressing their national challenges.
He, however, said government at all levels and all stakeholders, including the public must not relax and be complacent since WHO has declared Nigeria Ebola-free, adding that all Ebola-preventive measures should still be observed.
He stated that the feat was achieved by what he called the exceptional commitment of government to stamp out the deadly disease in the country and the unalloyed resolve of the medical practitioners to lead the challenge.