The Nation Newspaper

Tag: prevent

  • We’ll prevent Ebola outbreak in Oyo – Govt

    We’ll prevent Ebola outbreak in Oyo – Govt

    The Oyo State Government has assured the people of the state that it has taken some steps to ensure the prevention of an Ebola disease outbreak in the state.

    A statement issued in Ibadan on Friday by the state Commissioner for Health, Dr. Muyiwa Gbedegesin said that the state government was working closely with the Federal Ministry of Health, the World Health Organization (WHO) and the Ministries of Health of the neighbouring states to prevent the outbreak of the disease.

    “All the disease surveillance and notification officers in all the local government areas have been alerted and sensitized to promptly respond to the outbreak,’’ it said, adding that a sensitization programme had been also been organized for a similar purpose.

    The statement also said that public enlightenment highlighting how to prevent Ebola Virus disease, its causes, mode of transmissions and steps to be taken in case of outbreak had already commenced in form of sensitization of traditional healers, religious and community members, as well as through airing of jingles and distribution of posters.

    It highlighted the signs and symptoms of the disease to include onset of fever, weakness, muscle pain, headache and sore throat, conjunctivitis, hiccups, dysphasia followed by vomiting, diarrhea and rash.

    While assuring the people of the state of effective monitoring of the situation, the state government, however, urged them to take any suspected case to the nearby public health facility for adequate care.

  • ‘Prevent cholera outbreak’

    Lagos State Government has reiterated the need for the public to maintain adequate personal and environmental hygiene as part of precautions against outbreak of cholera in the state.

    Commissioner for Health, Dr Jide Idris, who made the call on Saturday, noted that there is the need to ensure high standard of hygiene, especially following suspected outbreak of cholera in some states in the country.

    While urging the public to be vigilant and report any suspected cases to the nearest health facility and the directorate of disease control in his ministry, Idris explained that cholera is an acute contagious bacterial disease that is characterised by severe form of sudden painless watery stools, nausea and profuse vomiting.

    He added: “Cholera should be suspected in any person who develops diarrhoea with or without vomiting, weakness, restlessness, irritability, dry mucous membrane, low blood pressure, leg cramps, excessive loss of body fluids (dehydration) or death from frequent stooling. Hence, adequate measures should be taken to reduce the risk of contracting the disease”.

    Idris noted government had evolved an inter-ministerial collaboration involving his ministries, Environment and Information, Lagos State Waste Management Authority (LAWMA) and Lagos State Water Corporation, adding that health and environmental status assessment of prone communities was on-going.

    He urged health workers to be on the alert and report suspected outbreak of more than five cases to the ministry.

  • Balarabe Musa: North’ll prevent Nigeria’s disintegration

    Second Republic Governor of Kaduna State, Alhaji Balarabe Musa, at the weekend said northerners would ensure that Nigeria does not disintegrate.

    The former governor noted that despite the security challenges facing the country, Nigeria would still remain one entity.

    Musa spoke in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital, at the 70th birthday of Chief Lekan Balogun, the Osi Olubadan of Ibadanland.

    He urged Nigerians not to lose hope in the future of the country.

    Through Comrade Laoye Sanda, the former governor said he and many other northerners believed in Nigeria’s continued unity, despite the present challenges.

    Musa, who was the guest speaker, said he has been an associate of Balogun for several years.

    He urged the Federal Government to create jobs for the millions of unemployed youths, adding: “A situation, where able-bodied men and women are unemployed, portents dangers for the future of the country. We take serious exception to the daily increase of unemployed youths. A situation where Nigerians cannot eat three meals in a day is not acceptable to us.”