Enugu Takes Campaign Against Ebola To Public And Private Institutions

Ignatius Okpara, Enugu

As part of precautionary measures to check the spread of the deadly Ebola Virus Disease (EVD), the Enugu state government on Tuesday took its ongoing sensitization programme against the spread of the virus to banks, Hotels and public and private Institutions.

Speaking at a one day sensitization/ Resource mobilization meeting with managers of institutions, the state Commissioner for Health, Dr. George Eze noted despite the fact that the state was free of the virus, the danger was not over.

Ebola

He however expressed happiness that workers in the Ministry of Health and other stakeholders in Nigeria were able to manage the case of a woman under surveillance who ran to Enugu from Lagos recently.

Commissioner Eze, recalled that when the woman developed fever, vomiting and diarrhoea in her house somewhere in Enugu, the government responded swiftly with only a few personal protective Equipment delivered during the Avian Flu Epidemic by the Federal Government.

He further expressed happiness that the husband of the lady guided them with his personal phone to their residence “where health personnel went for the rescue”.

Dr. Eze hinted that the cherry news was that the lady was among the seven patients who recovered and were discharged after tested negative repeatedly at the isolation center.

His words: “My Brothers and sisters, today as we speak, Enugu is free of Ebola but the danger is not over. The debacle in port Harcourt which is next door to us is a reminder that we are still under threat of Ebola.

” I wish to strongly emphasize that Ebola is not only a disease for state government, it is not only for the Ministry of Health, neither is it only for the indigenes of Enugu State. Ebola respects no class, respects no creed, respects no industry and respects no man,” the Commissioner said.

Delivering a lecture at the occasions, the state’s Director of Public Health, Dr Okechukwu Ossai, advised health workers to always adhere to global safety measures in order to avoid Ebola and other diseases.

He disclosed that most people who tested positive to Ebola were infected out of carelessness, adding that the husband of the woman under surveillance who ran out from Lagos to Enugu last Month tested negative to the virus because he observed all the necessary safety measures.