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  • Ebola: Lagos APC hails govt

    Ebola: Lagos APC hails govt

    The All Progressives Congress (APC) in Lagos State has hailed the government for the containment of the Ebola Virus Disease (EVD).

    The party said Lagos showed leadership in tackling the disease, which led to its successful containment in Nigeria.

    In a statement in Lagos yesterday by its Publicity Secretary, Joe Igbokwe, the APC said: “We note that Nigeria is gloating over the successful containment of Ebola virus.

    “We note that some people and groups are positioning themselves for the accolades for this feat.

    “But what is not in doubt is that the Lagos State government, through its health ministry and workers set the pace for the control of the virus.

    “We note that before any other person or sector could react, Lagos had mapped out strategies for the control of the disease, set out facilities for the treatment and quarantine of victims.

    “As the World Health Organisation (WHO) declares Nigeria Ebola free, it is proper that we salute the very dedicated pace setting role the Babatunde Fashola administration played in achieving this feat.

    “It is right to say that had the dreaded disease berthed elsewhere, Nigeria would have been grappling with an unmitigated disaster today.

    “Lagos APC salutes the Lagos State government for its positive roles in rescuing Nigeria from perdition.

    “We note that what passes off as the Nigerian economy today is driven by the state’s huge economy, which is the fifth largest in Africa.

    “We note that Lagos remains the life wire of the country and all these were because of the purposeful administrations that have ruled Lagos since 1999.

    “These have raised Lagos from a run-down slum to a beautiful and functional mega city, one of the few in the world.

    “While we acknowledge the ancillary roles of several other sectors, including the Federal Government, in the battle for the containment of Ebola, we insist that Lagos set the pace and led the battle for the defeat of Ebola.

    “We salute the Lagos State government for its purposeful leadership on this and other sectors of governance.

    “We urge Nigerians to appreciate the good works of the Fashola administration as we celebrate the declaration of Nigeria as an Ebola-free country.”

     

     

     

     

  • Atiku, Saraki, doctors applaud WHO

    Atiku, Saraki, doctors applaud WHO

    Some 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 commendable.

    Speaking  in separate interviews Dr Tope Ojo, the chairman, Nigeria Medical Association (NMA), Lagos State chapter, 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.”

    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.

    “For the WHO to declare Nigeria free of EVD is commendable. The past few months have been very turbulent because we were caught unawares.

    “Thank God for the Lagos State Government, Federal Government and other collaborations from agencies like WHO, UNICEF and Ebola Centre.

    Dr Sam Awolola, a medical researcher with the Nigerian Institute of Medical Research (NIMR), Lagos, said Nigerians should maintain the achievements recorded in containing EVD.

    “EVD and other related diseases are big concern to public health. So, in the area of hygiene, Nigerians should continue with the level of hygiene imbibed so far.

    “This hygiene practice will keep diseases away from our environments.

    “The Isolation Centres should be used for more research works on other related infections and contagious diseases,’’ he said.

    “We cannot say final ‘hurray’ now because we still need to keep monitoring and improving on all health standards to ensure that we do not have cause to deal with EVD again,’’ he said.

    In declaring the country EVD-free, WHO stated “The lines on the tabular situation reports, sent to WHO each day by its country office in Nigeria have now been full of zeros for 42 days.

    “This is a spectacular success story that shows that Ebola can be contained.

    “The story of how Nigeria ended what many believed to be potentially the most explosive Ebola outbreak imaginable is worth telling in detail.

    “Such a story can help the many other developing countries that are deeply worried by the prospect of an imported Ebola case and eager to improve their preparedness plans.

    “Many wealthy countries, with outstanding health systems, may have something to learn as well.

    Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar said despite Nigeria being declared an Ebola free nation, the country should not go to sleep yet until the last vestiges of the Ebola virus are destroyed.

    In a statement from his media office in Abuja, the former Vice President commended the successful eradication of The virus from the country, a feat he said, would change the negative perception of the country by the outside world.

    He said the Federal Government as well as the Lagos and Rivers States’ governments should be commended for this remarkable achievement in the face of the grimmest medical crisis that the country found itself.

    Atiku explained that the success is a clear indication that when leaders work together for the common good of the society, there was always a ray of hope for the nation and praised the medical personnel who participated in the battle to control the spread of the disease.

    Chairman Senate Committee on the Environment and Ecology, Senator Bukola Saraki in a statement in Abuja entitled :Proud to be a Nigerian. Together we defeated Ebola” said: “I join Nigerians all over the world to celebrate the World Health Organisation declaring our country ‘Ebola free’.

    “This is a significant achievement that must be celebrated by every Nigerian, regardless of what aisle of our numerous political divides that we stand on.

    “The way that we all came together to combat this disease makes me believe that together Nigeria stands as an unconquerable and indivisible nation.

    “We must all commend everyone that played a role in this victory, especially our healthcare workers that stood on the frontlines to halt the Ebola virus from spreading.

    “And as we do so, we must also remember the heroes – our dear and departed countrymen and women – who gave their lives in service of their nation, by maintaining the integrity of the medical profession.”

     

  • WHO declares Nigeria Ebola-free

    WHO declares Nigeria Ebola-free

    •Survivor relives ordeal

    President Goodluck Jonathan yesterday pleaded against lowering of guards as the World Health Organisation (WHO) declared Nigeria Ebola-free.

    This is after 42 days — or two incubation periods — without any new confirmed cases of the deadly virus.

    “The virus is gone for now. The outbreak in Nigeria has been defeated,” WHO Country Representative Rui Gama Vaz said in Abuja.

    “This is a spectacular success story that shows to the world that Ebola can be contained.”

    “The war will only end when West Africa is also declared free. Ladies and gentlemen, allow me to use this opportunity, on behalf of the WHO Director General, Dr. Margaret Chan and WHO Regional Director for Africa, to congratulate the government of Federal Republic of Nigeria through His Excellency, President Goodluck Jonathan, the people of Nigeria and all stakeholders that made it possible to contain the Ebola virus in Nigeria.”

    The arrival of Ebola in  Africa’s most populous nation, leading economy and top oil producer sparked fears of its rapid spread throughout the country of 170 million people.

    But the doomsday scenario did not happen and health experts involved in tackling the outbreak praised the authorities for their rapid response and comprehensive contact tracing.

    In all, eight people died, of the 20 confirmed cases in Nigeria’s biggest city, Lagos, and the oil hub of Port Harcourt. Nearly 900 people were monitored for signs of the disease.

    Nigeria’s official Ebola-free status comes after Senegal was given the all-clear on Friday.

    Both countries are coming under close scrutiny from public health specialists looking to contain the spread of the disease around the world.

    More than 4,500 people have died and nearly 10,000 have been infected with the haemorrhagic fever, most of them in West Africa, since the start of the year.

    But a number of cases outside the region, particularly in Spain and the United States, have raised fears about its wider transmission and the urgency for a more effective response.

    As well as rigorous contact tracing, Nigeria introduced stringent health screening checks at all airports and sea ports for arrivals and departures.

    Health Minister Prof. Onyecbuchi Chukwu paid tributes to those who contributed to the success. They include Mrs. Justina Egelohun, Mrs. Evelyn Uku, the late Dr. Ameyo Adadevoh, Dr. Adaorah, Dr. Fadipe Akiniyi, Dr. Maurice Ibauchi and the management of First Consultants Hospital.

    Others are Governor of Lagos Babatunde Fashola and his Enugu counterpart Sullivan Chime as well as Rivers Governor Chibuike Amaechi.

    Others are the Commissioners for Health. Permanent Secretaries, Ministry of Health, Lagos, Dr. Olukayode Oguntimeyin, among others.

    Minister of State for Health Dr. Haliru Alhassan attributed the success to strong partnership with development partners.

    He called for more proactive measures to control infections.

    He insisted that personal hygiene should be a thing of interest, adding that the Nigerian Custom Service (NCS) should intensify its efforts at protecting Nigerians borders.

    Information Minister Labaran Maku attributed the success to divine intervention and what he called Jonathan’s political commitment.

    He lauded the strong collective efforts from the medical officials.

    He lauded the media for their strong public awareness and sensitisation.

    At the ceremony were Director General (DG), National Agency for Food and Drugs Development Agency (NAFDAC), Chief Medical Director, Centre for Disease Control (CDC), representatives from Enugu and Rivers states, among others.

    President Jonathan said all the measures taken after the entry of the Ebola Virus Disease into Nigeria should remain intact.

    In a statement by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Dr. Reuben Abati, the President also asked health officials to continue to actively screen persons entering the country through its air, land and sea borders for any sign of the virus.

    He said: “As the nation applauds the success of its collective effort to stop the transmission of the Ebola Virus within Nigeria however, the President warns that the entire country must remain fully alert and vigilant against the re-entry of the virus.”

    “President Jonathan fully shares the view expressed by WHO in its congratulatory message to Nigeria that while we have 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.”

    The President also urged all Nigerians to continue to follow the anti-Ebola advisories on sanitation and personal hygiene issued by Federal and State Health authorities.

    Jonathan dedicated the W.H.O. certification to the many patriotic health workers, volunteers and ordinary Nigerians who worked tirelessly, some of them paying the ultimate price, to stop the deadly virus in its track after it entered the country in July this year.

  • Nigeria declared Ebola free

    Nigeria declared Ebola free

    The World Health Organisation has declared Nigeria free of the Ebola Virus Disease.

    The Country Representative of the WHO, Dr. Rui Gama Vaz, made the declaration during a briefing organised by the Federal Ministry of Health, on Monday in Abuja.

    Vaz said: “The Ebola outbreak in Nigeria has been defeated. This is a spectacular success story that shows to the world that Ebola can be contained.

    “The war will only end when West Africa is also declared free. Ladies and gentlemen, allow me to use this opportunity on behalf of the WHO Director General, Dr. Margaret Chan and WHO Regional Director for Africa, to congratulate the government of Federal Republic of Nigeria through his Excellency, President Goodluck Jonathan, the people of Nigeria and all stakeholders that made it possible to contain the Ebola virus in Nigeria.”

    The Minister of Health, Prof. Onyebuchi Chukwu, attributed the success to good leadership and collaborations among respective partners.

    Chukwu gave tribute to those who have contributed largely to the success. They include – Mrs. Justina Egelohun, Mrs. Evelyn Uku, Dr. Stella Armeyor Adadevoh, Dr. Adaorah, Dr. Fadipe Akiniyi, Dr. Maurice Ibauchi and the management of First Consultant Hospital.

    Others are – Governor of Lagos, Enugu and Rivers including their Commissioners for Health and the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Health, Lagos, Dr. Olukayode Oguntimeyin, among others.

    The Minister of State for Health, Dr. Haliru Alhassan, attributed the success to strong partnership with development partners.

    He called for more proactive measures to control infections in the country.

  • WHO to declare Nigeria Ebola-free

    WHO to declare Nigeria Ebola-free

    Nigeria is expected to be declared Ebola-free today, just three months after fears that the virus could spread like wildfire through Africa’s most populous nation.

    The World Health Organisation (WHO) is preparing to announce that Nigeria has not had a confirmed case of Ebola for 42 days or two incubation periods of 21 days. It did same for Senegal on Friday.

    The achievement is being welcomed, with no end in sight to the disease that has claimed more than 4,500 lives this year, most of them in west Africa, and mounting fears about cases around the world.

    Close attention is being paid to how Nigeria managed to contain the virus, as specialists look for a more effective response to control its spread.

    But there were warnings against any premature celebration, with complacency still a risk and luck considered to have played a part in containing the outbreak.

    Eight people died out of 20 confirmed Ebola cases in Nigeria, with all infections traced back to a single source, Liberian finance ministry official, Patrick Sawyer, who arrived in Lagos on July 20.

    Many feared the worst when Mr Sawyer died on July 25 in a private hospital in Nigeria’s biggest city, which is home to more than 20 million people.

    Doctors were on strike at the time over pay and conditions in the public health sector.

    Yet the doomsday scenario of rapid spread among a 170-million-strong population, devastating Africa’s leading economy and oil producer, did not materialise.

    “Nigeria acted quickly and early and on a large scale,” John Vertefeuille, from the US Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), told AFP.

  • Nigeria ‘expected to be declared Ebola-free’ Monday

    Nigeria ‘expected to be declared Ebola-free’ Monday

    Nigeria is expected to be declared Ebola-free on Monday, just three months after fears that the virus could spread like wildfire throughout the country.

    The World Health Organization is preparing to announce that Nigeria has not had a confirmed case of Ebola for 42 days – or two incubation periods of 21 days — just as it did for Senegal on Friday, AFP reports.

    The achievement is being welcomed, with no end in sight to the disease that has claimed more than 4,500 lives this year, most of them in West Africa, and mounting fears about cases around the world.

    Close attention is being paid to how Nigeria, with an under-funded and ill-equipped health system, managed to contain the virus, as specialists look for a more effective response to control its spread.

    But there were warnings against any premature celebration, with complacency still a risk and luck considered to have played a part in containing the outbreak.

    Eight people died out of 20 confirmed Ebola cases in Nigeria, with all infections traced back to a single source – Liberian finance ministry official Patrick Sawyer, who arrived in Lagos on July 20.

    Many feared the worst when Sawyer died on July 25 in a private hospital in Nigeria’s biggest city, which is home to more than 20 million people, with poor sanitation and inadequate health facilities.

    Doctors were on strike at the time over pay and conditions in the public health sector, where many state hospitals lack running water, let alone soap and other basic equipment.

    Yet the doomsday scenario of rapid spread among a 170-million-strong population, devastating Africa’s leading economy and oil producer, did not materialise.

    “Nigeria acted quickly and early and on a large scale,” John Vertefeuille, the United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention official, told AFP.

    “They acted aggressively, especially in terms of contact-tracing.”

     

  • Ebola deaths near 4,500 -WHO

    Ebola deaths near 4,500 -WHO

    A total of 4,493 people have died from the world’s worst Ebola outbreak on record, and the situation in Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone is deteriorating, the World Health Organization said on Wednesday.

    WHO said a total of 8,997 confirmed, probable and suspected cases of Ebola had been reported in seven countries as of October 12, with the vast majority of these in the three West African nations.

    In Spain and the United States, a handful of healthcare workers are ill, while Senegal and Nigeria appear to have prevented further spread of the disease, the WHO said.

    “It is clear that the situation in Guinea, Liberia, and Sierra Leone is deteriorating, with widespread and persistent transmission of (Ebola),” the WHO report stated.

    In Guinea 843 people have died of the disease and an increase in new cases was driven by a spike in infection in the coastal capital Conakry and the nearby district of Coyah, Reuters reports.

    In Liberia, the United Nations’ health agency said that problems with data gathering made it hard to draw conclusions about the evolution of the epidemic, with the number of cases in the capital Monrovia almost certainly significantly under-reported.

    The U.S is deploying up to 4,000 troops to West Africa to help contain an outbreak of the hemorrhagic fever with the bulk of the effort targeting Liberia.

    They are building 17 Ebola Treatment Units (ETUs) across the country, a task that should be completed by the end of the year, according to Ben Hemingway, the team leader for aid agency USAID’s Disaster Assistance Response in Liberia.

    Six such units are already up and running, he said.

  • West Africa Ebola outbreak deaths exceed 4,000 – WHO

    West Africa Ebola outbreak deaths exceed 4,000 – WHO

    The number of people killed in the Ebola outbreak has risen above 4,000, the World Health Organisation has said.

     The latest figures show there have been 8,376 cases and 4,024 deaths in the worst-affected West African nations of Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone.

     The news comes as Liberian MPs refused to grant the president additional powers to deal with the Ebola crisis.

     President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf has already declared a state of emergency that allows her to impose quarantines.

     One parliamentarian, Bhofal Chambers, warned that creeping extra powers could turn Liberia into a “police state”.

    The total death toll of 4,033 includes the death of a Liberian man in the United States this week and the eight people who died in Nigeria, where health authorities say they have now contained the virus.

    The UN says more than 233 health workers working in West Africa have now died in the outbreak, the world’s deadliest to date.

     A nurse in Spain is being treated for the virus after becoming infected from an Ebola patient who had been repatriated from Liberia – the country most badly hit by the disease with 2,316 deaths.

  • Ebola now entrenched in West Africa – WHO

    Ebola now entrenched in West Africa – WHO

    The World Health Organization has warned that Ebola is now entrenched in the capital cities of all three worst-affected countries and is accelerating in almost all settings.

    WHO deputy head, Bruce Aylward, warned that the world’s response was not keeping up with the disease in Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone.

    The three countries have appealed for more aid to help fight the disease.

    The outbreak has killed more than 3,860 people, mainly in West Africa.

    More than 200 health workers are among the victims.

    Speaking on Thursday, Mr. Aylward said the situation was worse than it was 12 days ago.

    “The disease is entrenched in the capitals, 70 per cent of the people affected are definitely dying from this disease, and it is accelerating in almost all of the settings,” he said.

    The medical charity Medecins Sans Frontieres (MSF) reported a sharp increase of Ebola cases in the Guinean capital, Conakry, dashing hopes that that the disease was being stabilised there.

    Speaking to the BBC on Friday, MSF President Joanna Liu called for urgent international action.

    “We’re not winning the battle,” she said.

    “To get ahead of the game we’re going to need to deploy much more massively than what we have done so far.”

    At least one in 20 of those killed in the latest outbreak were medical workers, she said.

  • Ebola: Nigeria to get WHO clearance October 20

    Ebola: Nigeria to get WHO clearance October 20

    Nigeria will still have to wait till October 20 to get the World Health Organization clearance on the Ebola Virus Disease (EVD).

    WHO country Representative, Dr. Ruiz Vaz, disclosed this at Thursday’s High Level Experts’ meeting on the virus held in Abuja.

    He said the country would have to wait till after the 42 days follow up period.

    According to him, if by October 20, there is no any new case, WHO would confirm Nigeria as Ebola free.

    While stating that no new cases have been recorded in the country since August, Vaz however warned that it is not yet over as the country is still at risk of the virus.

    To prevent another importation, the WHO country representative urged Nigeria to strengthen screening at the ports.

    Vaz also advised the country to invest in research, which he described as vital and critical.