The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Ebola

  • Still on Ebola

    Still on Ebola

    •In spite of hearty news, some concerns linger

    Thankfully, the anxiety that pervaded the country  when late Mr. Patrick Sawyer brought the Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) into the country in July, has subsided. After some deaths and scrupulous surveillance, the authorities say we have only one case in the country, and the patient is in stable condition.

    Praise must go to the Federal Government for its collaboration with the Lagos State government to contain the disease. Special commendation also goes to the Lagos State Governor, Babatunde Raji Fashola, SAN, for mobilising the state’s institutions with those of the Federal Government in restoring hope after a frenetic month. We can only expect such intergovernmental cooperation to extend to other spheres of life.

    However, the issue has remained in the front burner of national discourse. It has brought about all kinds of requests, demands, campaign and what have you. All these are expected given the emergency that the disease represents. One of the latest issues about the disease is the demand by health care providers in the country for the Federal Government to carry them along in the current war against Ebola. Another is the postponement of the resumption by pupils in public and private primary and secondary schools across the country, currently on holiday.

    The health providers, under the aegis of the Association of General and Private Medical Practitioners of Nigeria and the Guild of Medical Directors of Nigeria bared their minds at a meeting with the health minister, Prof. Onyebuchi Chukwu, and top officials of the ministry in Abuja on August 22. They also complained that the government has not provided any of their members with the protective wears used in treating the EVD patients.

    We may not agree entirely with the health providers that it is the duty of government to provide all they are asking for. For instance, as the minister noted, the Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) that they want are meant to be used at the Ebola isolation centres and not in the hospitals. Moreover, face masks, fresh pair of gloves for each patients; aprons; etc. that they said they need are supposed to be the standard tools that they should have been using even before the EVD became an issue in the country.

    Nonetheless, it is our view that the government still has to integrate them into its anti-Ebola war. As the health providers noted at the parley with Prof Chukwu, they are at risk probably more than even their counterparts in public hospitals.  The first case of the deadly disease, we should not forget, occurred at the First Consultants Hospital, a private hospital owned by a member of the association. Although suspected cases of Ebola still have to be referred to the appropriate quarters, patients somewhat believe that their confidentiality is better protected at the private hospitals, hence the likelihood that they would make the private clinics their first port of call. Again, because of the emergency that the disease is, government should assist the private hospitals in the special training on how to handle the disposal of hospital equipment. These are not normal times, and no amount is too much to be invested in safeguarding Nigerians against the Ebola disease.

    We commend the Federal Government for postponing schools’ resumption. Although it would seem a contradiction for the same government that says EVD has been contained in the country to also postpone schools resumption, the decision is one of the good things it has done since the outbreak of EVD. Containment does not imply elimination.

    Although many people, particularly proprietors of private schools may not be comfortable with the postponement since their income depends on school fees paid by the students, the fact is that this is not the best of times and nothing should be left to chance concerning Ebola, particularly where our young ones are concerned. They are highly vulnerable and should be well protected. The proprietors have to realise that there comes a time when people have to make sacrifice in the interest of all. This is one such moment for them.

    However, the Federal Government has to ensure that the extension of the holiday is not in vain by implementing the preventive measures it promised,   before the students resume . We should avoid being carried away by the gains we have recorded in the containment of the disease so far, as a new case has just been detected in Port harcourt, the Rivers State capital.

  • Ebola: Four cleared in Oyo

    Ebola: Four cleared in Oyo

    The Oyo State Government Thursday cleared four people thought to have contracted the Ebola Virus Disease.

    The state’s Commissioner for Health, Dr. Muyiwa Gbadegeshin, told The Nation that contrary to rumours that some patients in state and private hospitals have contracted the disease, said the four patients who showed symptoms of the EVD have tested negative to the virus.

    The state’s Epidemiologist, Dr. Gbolahan Abass, corroborated Gbadegeshin’s view, saying the four have been cleared of the disease.

    According to them, the four patients were treated in private and government hospitals in Iseyin, Ibadan, Igbo-Ora and Ogbomoso.

    “The report of the latest person among the four patients came in Thursday morning and it was negative. The patient was receiving treatment in Igbo-Ora when he was suspected of having contracted the virus. As we speak, I can confirm to you that there is no single case of Ebola in Oyo State. We want to assure the public that there is no single case of Ebola in Oyo State,” Dr. Gbadegesin said.

     

     

  • Ebola: NUT hails ‘shifting’ of schools’ resumption

    The Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT) on Thursday commended the Federal Government’s decision to postpone the resumption of schools in the country till October 13 to contain Ebola virus disease spread.

    The News Agency of Nigeria reports that Federal Government had on Tuesday directed primary and secondary schools to resume in October instead September 8, following an outbreak of the disease in the country.

    It said the order affected both private and public institutions.

    The federal government also said the schools’ resumption date was postponed to enable school officials undergo a two-week mandatory training conducted by health officials on how to handle Ebola cases.

    Reacting to the development, the NUT President, Mr. Michael Alogba-Olukoya, told NAN that the decision was commendable.

    Alogba-Olukoya said the postponement was a proactive and bold step taken to contain the spread of the Ebola virus disease.

    “I want to appreciate the Federal Government for the N1.9 billion intervention fund to contain the outbreak of the deadly Ebola virus in the country.

    “I want government to ensure that the fund is judiciously utilised to avoid and prevent the spread of the deadly virus.

    “The idea of allowing Nigerian factor as it concerns the fund should be seriously discouraged,’’ he said.

    He also called on government to make efforts in developing vaccines for prevention and provide screening centres where Nigerians can go for test pending the resumption of schools.

    Besides, he said the two-week mandatory training to be conducted by health officials for school officials was a good decision.

    He, however, called on the school authorities, health officials and other stakeholders to exhibit seriousness, commitment and patriotism during the two-week training.

    “My candid advice to all teachers in the system is that they should be conscious of their primary contact.

    “They should abide by the rules and they should equally advice the students to comply with the protective measures being put in place by the health officials,’’ he stated.

  • Ebola death toll tops 1, 550

    The Ebola outbreak in West Africa has taken 1,552 lives out of 3,069 known cases in four countries and “continues to accelerate”, the World Health Organisation said on Thursday.

    “More than 40 percent of the total number of cases had occurred within the past 21 days. However, most cases are concentrated in only a few localities,” Reuters quoted WHO as saying in a statement ahead of launching its new strategic plan for tackling the world’s worst Ebola outbreak.

    A separate Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo, identified as a different strain of the virus, is not included in the latest figures which cover Guinea, Liberia, Sierra Leone and Nigeria, it said.

  • Ebola: Rivers records first casualty, 70 under observation

    Ebola: Rivers records first casualty, 70 under observation

    Rivers State last Friday recorded its first casualty of the deadly Ebola Virus Disease as a doctor who treated an ECOWAS staff, a primary contact of the Liberian-American, Patrick Sawyer, died of the virus.

    With the doctor’s death, the number of casualty of the EVD in the country is now six.

    The doctor’s case was not managed by the government team as it was only made known after his death.

    The ECOWAS staff who had since returned to Lagos has been brought under surveillance.

    Presently, 70 people have been placed under surveillance in Port Harcourt, the capital of Rivers State. The result of the test conducted on the wife of the doctor is being expected later on Thursday.

    In all, 217 people are still under observation in the country, 141 in Lagos, 70 in Rivers and six in Enugu.

    The doctor, who is a secondary contact was reported to have treated an ECOWAS staff who had contact with the Liberian-American that imported the virus into Nigeria.

    The ECOWAS staff who is a Nigerian, according to Minister of Health, Prof. Onyebuchi Chukwu, evaded government surveillance team in July and traveled out of Lagos to Port Harcourt, where he was said to have consulted with the doctor.

    The minister, however, assured the people of Rivers that there was no cause for panicking as the government is on top of the situation.

    He assured residents of the state that government was going to handle the case just as it did with Lagos.

    The minister also pleaded with those under observation to stick to the simple instruction, stressing that early detection has been very helpful in containing the disease.

  • Ebola: Jonathan condemns discrimination against Nigerians

    Ebola: Jonathan condemns discrimination against Nigerians

    President Goodluck Jonathan condemned yesterday the stigmatisation and discrimination against Nigerians overseas over the Ebola Virus Disease (EVD).

    He condemned the trend while receiving a Special Envoy of the United Nations Secretary-General, Mr. Ban Ki-Moon, on Ebola Virus, Dr. David Navarro, at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

    Jonathan, according to a statement by the Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Dr. Reuben Abati, recalled the incident which forced Nigeria’s team to the Youth Olympics in China to abandon its participation due to stigmatisation.

    He said there was no justification for such stigmatisation of Nigerians since the Ebola Virus Disease had been effectively contained in the country and has never attained epidemic level in the country.

    The President called for the cessation of such discriminatory actions against Nigerians over the virus.

    Responding to the Secretary General’s commendation of Nigeria’s management of the threat of Ebola, Jonathan praised the Federal Ministry of Health, the Lagos State Government and all Nigerians for the success achieved so far in containing the virus and avoiding a national epidemic.

    He said: “All hands have been on deck to contain the virus here. I commend my team and the Lagos State Government. We have been able to set politics aside and work in unison to deal with a national threat.”

    “All other Nigerians have played a part too by complying with the directives and advice we have issued to stop the virus from spreading any further. The success we have had is a testimony to what we can achieve as people if we set aside our differences and work together.”

    He assured the Special Envoy that in spite of the success of  its containment measures, the Federal Government and its agencies would remain vigilant to guard against further cases of Ebola.

    “We will continue to monitor the situation and we will also support other affected African countries as much as we can because we cannot be completely safe from the virus as long as it continues to ravage some countries in our sub-region and continent. We will continue to work with the international community to curb the outbreak in other countries,” he said

    Mr. Navarro, who  had visited Liberia, Guinea and Sierra Leone, three countries worst hit by Ebola before coming to Nigeria, told the President that he came on the instruction of the UN Secretary-General to applaud Nigeria’s successful containment of the virus.

    He said: “The Secretary-General asked me to come here too, not because you have an Ebola problem, but because you have tackled it in an exemplary fashion.

    “Your personal leadership on the matter has been key. There may still be some work to be done before the virus is completely cleared out from here, but other countries can learn from your fine example.”

    Speaking with State House correspondents at the end of the meeting, Navarro praised Nigeria for containing the Ebola Virus Disease.

    He said: “I have discussed with the President the result of my mission in other countries in the region and we also examined the situation of Ebola Virus Disease in Nigeria.”

    “The point I made to the President of Nigeria is that this country and its people have performed excellently in their response to Ebola Virus Disease.”

    “It has been a whole of country effort. The whole of the society has been involved and the correct procedures are being adopted.” He said

    He warned that there would always be outbreaks of dangerous diseases in the world because of globalisation, free movement between countries and between communities, and because viruses move from the animal kingdom to the human population.

    He said: “The good public health techniques and the full involvement of all of society, strong leadership by all, whatever their political party, can lead to successful control effort.

    “We of course regret that some people lost their lives. There may be someone who got sick and died as a result of this current Ebola insertion into Nigeria but I am confident that the government and the people are responding in a proper way and to ensure that the situation is kept under control by the way they are paying full attention to the people’s rights and entitlement.

    “So thank you minister and through the media I would also want to thank the people, the government, civil society groups, doctors, nurses communities workers it has been a team effort and it is has been done well and I hope will continue go on well because there may be one or two cases but they will be dealt with.”

  • Ebola: UNIBEN students allege isolation

    Barely a week after the University of Benin (UNIBEN) resumed for a new semester, some students of the university, who travelled from Lagos, have alleged plans by some of their friends to isolate them over the fear of Ebola Virus Disease (EVD).

    Although no case of the virus has been recorded they are taking precautionary  measures from contracting the virus.

    Speaking with The Nation in Benin City, some students absolved themselves of any blame over the preventive measure, noting that everybody, including clerics is scared of contracting the disease.

    One of them, who pleaded anonymity, said: “I’m not surprised to hear this. It’s not true and I cannot blame the students who have decided to do so. Everybody in Nigeria is afraid of the disease, including pastors. It will definitely create problems among students.”

    Another source said students  are a lot more careful.

    Meanwhile, the authorities of the UNIBEN have urged both staff and students to take precautionary measure against contracting EVD.

    In a statement by the management, workers and students were advised to avoid casual sex, use of unsterlised needles and blades, as well as unnecessary travels, especially to places where cases of the virus have been confirmed. They were urged to avoid contact with body secretions and fluids such as sweat, saliva, blood, urine from other people and cook food properly before eating.

  • Nigeria still at risk of Ebola virus – Minister

    Nigeria still at risk of Ebola virus – Minister

    Despite efforts at containing the Ebola Virus Disease and reduction of patients on treatment to only one person in Nigeria, the Minister of Health, Prof. Onyebuchi Chukwu, Wednesday warned that Nigeria is still at risk of the virus.

    Briefing State House correspondents at the end of the Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting, he said that the virus can still find its way to Nigeria as long as there is any case of Ebola anywhere in the world and there is free movement of persons from country to country.

    According to him, Nigerians don’t need to roll out the drums and celebrate now until the last case is eliminated in the world.

    But he said that Nigeria is not panicking over the disease and therefore no need to close its borders.

    Stressing that screening of visitors and Nigerians coming back to the country is being intensified at the entry points, he urged Nigerians to remain careful and keep on observing behaviours that will keep the virus at bay.

  • ‘Not even Ebola could stop us’

    ‘Not even Ebola could stop us’

    This year’s Osun Osogbo Festival has since ended, but its memory lingers. Osun devotees ignored the deadly Ebola scare to worship their goddess, writes  Adesoji Adeniyi.

    since 2005, when it got listed as a  United Nations Educational Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) World Heritage site, the Osun-Osogbo Grove has become a major tourists’ destination.

    Yearly, a large crowd  of tourists from in and outside Nigeria converge on the Osun Grove at Osogbo, the Osun State capital, to worship their goddess. This has brought huge religious, social and economic benefits to the state.

    Every August, when the festival holds, Osogbo is put on the world map. For the Osun devotees, it is a period of spiritual cleansing and dedication. Thousands of devotees and believers in the supernatural power of the river “goddess of fertility and wealth”,  congregate at the grove to renew their vows.

    The event starts with traditional cleansing of the town, Iwopopo, to be followed three days later by the lighting of the 500-year old sixteen-stand lamp called Atupa Olojomerindinlogun.  What comes after this is Ib oriade, an assemblage of the crowns of the past monarchs (Ataoja) for blessings. It is led by the current Ataoja and the votary maid (Arugba), propelled by the Chief Priestess, Yeye Osun, and a committee of priestesses.  The Arugba, who is expected to be a virgin, will carry a calabash containing what is believed to be the people’s age-long prayers to the grove.

    This year’s event was no different, but for a little twist. The grand finale of the two-week event was marked without  fanfare. Reason: the fear of the deadly Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) . The fear affected attendance at the festival, which was said to be low-key compared to past editions.

    Few days to its grand finale, the government warned that visitors from outside the state would not be allowed to participate in the event. Although the warning did not go down well with the devotees and the festival’s committee, explained the reason for its action. According to the Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Mr Sunday Akere, the low-key celebration was because of the Ebola virus imported  into the country through the late Liberian-American, Patrick Sawyer.

    Despite the order, some Osun worshippers still came from other states and abroad. Against all odds, the Osun Advisory Committee insisted on holding the event on its scheduled date in accordance with the town’s tradition and culture.

    The Ataoja of Osogbo, Oba Jimoh Olanipekun, played his role of receiving visitors to the grove. He also  prayed for the country.

    Gaily dressed traditional groups, members of the Oodua People’s Congress and other devotees added colour to it.

    The devotees, who trooped to the grove last Friday, underwent medical screening. Besides the devotees, visitors and journalists were subjected to various medical checks as part of precautionary measures by state. As early 6am, no fewer than 80 medical and health personnel deployed by the government were already at the two main entrances of the grove, screening people with infrared thermometers.

    Vehicles were not allowed beyond the entrance of the grove, while the occupants were asked to alight for screening.

    Akere called for the understanding of the people, particularly the goddess worshippers, its devotees and other traditionalists. He said their cooperation would be seen as sacrifice for the well-being of Osogbo residents.

    Lagos-based Prince Adeola Oshuniyi, who has attended the festival for the past 40 years and Mrs Abosede Modinatu-Ojo, a theatre practitioner, were two of the die-hard devotees, who stopped at nothing to attend the festival. They said they could not afford to miss it, saying the goddess would protect them.

    Mrs Modinatu-Ojo said: “Not even Ebola disease could stop me from coming for the festival. If truly there is Ebola, Osun would never allow it to affect us. We are Osun’s children and we are sure of her adequate protection.”

    She said the Osun goddess was approached and appeased by her parents before she was born, adding that nothing can stop her from coming yearly to celebrate and worship the goddess.

    Another worshipper, Omikunbi Adams has not missed the  festival. She said: “For the past four years that I have been coming to worship Osun I have enjoyed tremendous blessings. So, Ebola could not have stopped me from attending this year’s festival. To me, what is called Ebola is not worse than Soponna, which our forefathers cured with ease. And Osun as our saving grace will not allow it to spread in our land. Whatever request we made from Osun is always granted, so, we are lucky people only if we recognise that fact.”

    Prince Oshuniyi,  a residence of Ayobo,  a Lagos suburb, said: “I don’t believe Ebola exists and if it does, Osun water will wash it away. This is a major reason I am here, to seek protection for myself and my family. If Ebola is attacking some people it is because they have forgotten their roots. In those days, if there was an epidemic, our forefathers knew what to do. They knew how to appease the gods, use herbs and leaves to provide succour. But unfortunately, all those have left us because we have decided to follow other people’s culutre that we do not understand to our own peril.”

    An American, Jacob Wallace, who said he came from Atlanta, Georgia in the United States, said he came for the first time to Nigeria to have “a feel of the power of Osun” which, according to him, was well-discussed abroad.

    The Director, Primary Health Care and Disease Control, Dr Kayode Ogunniyi, said although no one tested positive to the disease, two people out of the 600 already screened before noon were disallowed from entering the grove because of their perceived ill-health.

    Oguniyi said the government provided the screening equipment, adding that quarantine centres  have been set up in the three senatorial districts of the state.

    The Director-General, Nigeria Tourism Development Corporation (NTDC), Mrs. Sally Mbanefo spoke of the Federal Government’s readiness to develop tourist centres across the country. She said the government would ensure that the grove was developed to attract more foreign tourists.

    Other notable traditionalists at the grove  included renowned Ifa priests, Chief Ifayemi Elebuibon and Dr Adetoyese Olakisan.

  • We have contained Ebola – Minister

    We have contained Ebola – Minister

    …Two more people discharged

    38 days after Nigeria recorded its first case of Ebola Virus Disease, the Minister of Health, Prof. Onyebuchi Chukwu, on Tuesday announced that the country has contained the deadly disease.

    The minister also confirmed that more patients have been discharged.

    The latest news was contained in an update release by the media aide to the minister, Mr. Dan Nwomeh.

    The minister noted that as at Tuesday, Nigeria has only one confirmed Ebola case.

    The only patient, according to the minister is a secondary contact of the Liberian-American, Patrick Sawyer, spouse of one of the physicians who participated in the management of the Liberian.

    The minister also announced that the female patient though is still at the isolation centre, is stable.

    He said, “As I speak to you, Nigeria has only one confirmed case of EVD, a secondary contact of Mr. Patrick Sawyer’s and spouse of one of the physicians who participated in the management of the index case. She is stable but still on treatment at the isolation ward in Lagos.

    “So far, all the reported cases of the EVD in Nigeria have their root in the index case, the late Mr. Patrick Sawyer. This is an indication that, thus far, Nigeria has contained the disease outbreak.

    “I wish to reassure Nigerians and indeed the global community that the government shall remain vigilant and will not relent as government continues to work with her partners to ensure that the disease is kept out of the country.”

    Besides, the minister informed that 129 persons had been freed from surveillance, having passed through the 21 days incubation period for the virus without testing positive.

    Similarly, 128 persons are still within the radar of government for the virus, the minister stated.

    “All those who are under our surveillance, only one person is symptomatic; we are investigating, the result is not out. All others are not symptomatic,” he said.