With other reports from Garba Mohammad
The Management of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) on Friday announced the indefinite shutdown of its clinic in the Muri Okunola area of Victoria Island, Lagos, following a suspected case of Ebola virus on admission at the clinic. It was discovered that the patient visited the First Consultant Medical Centre during the period the first Ebola case was reported at that clinic.
The Corporation in statement explained that the pre-emptive step was taken after the case was duly reported to the Federal Ministry of Health as well as officials of the Lagos State Ministry of Health.
“In the meantime, all contacts with this case are being traced and adequate precautionary measures instituted to contain the possible spread of the disease,’’ the Corporation stated.
The medical team has assured that the patient is in stable condition.
Also .the Rivers State Commissioner for Health Dr. Tamunoiyoriari Parker has called on the people of the state to remain calm in the face of the Ebola virus scare. While announcing that there are no reported cases of Ebola disease in the state, he stated that the government of Rt. Hon. Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi has provided all the personnel and materials needed to combat the deadly virus.
These messages are contained in a statement he made to some newsmen in his office in Port Harcourt.
Dr. Parker expressed Gov. Amaechi’s confidence in the capability of the Rivers State Ebola Technical Committee. He described statements made by former deputy speaker of the House Representatives, Mr. Austin Opara during an interview with a radio station in Port Harcourt, to the effect that Gov. Amaechi was not taking the Ebola virus seriously, as “reckless, irresponsible and unfortunate.”
“Gov. Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi has given me everything we need to fight the Ebola virus in Rivers State and has also assured me that should we need more personnel and materials the state would provide. However, I realize that this is political season but we as leaders must be responsible in our utterances so as not to cause unnecessary panic in our people” Dr. Parker said.
The Rivers State Commissioner for Health stated that he is in touch with all agencies involved in the fight against Ebola within and outside Nigeria, including the Centre for Disease Control (CDC), Atlanta and Emory University in the United States.
“Discussions with these international reputable agencies and institutions have been very encouraging and our people shall soon see the benefits,” Dr. Parker stated.
Finally, Dr. Parker urged Rivers people to observe basic personal hygiene by washing their hands with soap and water regularly, avoid eating uncooked meat, handle raw meats and rodents with care.
Equally ,Adamawa State Government has deployed over 50 experts across border communities as it also debunked the death of four people as tension over the infiltration of Ebola Virus into the state caused massive uproar .Many people resorted to bathing with salt solution believing that it will prevent them from contracting the deadly virus.
Speaking in Yola, the state’s Commissioner of Health, Mr. Felix Tangwami said there was no reported case of Ebola outbreak anywhere in the state urging the people to be calm as Government is doing everything possible to ensure that the virus did not infiltrate the state.
“The rumor that four people have died of the disease is a mere speculation as no case was reported anywhere,” Tangwami said.
He further urged the people to maintain calm saying that the scare being caused in the state is unfounded as medically, the disease cannot cause the death of four people within a time frame of 24 hours.
“Anyone with little knowledge of the disease will know that it cannot strike and kill people within 24 hours.
“The disease has an incubation period between when it attacks and when symptoms will be visible so the issue of the scare is unfounded,” He added.
However the Commissioner assured the people of the state that in order to prevent any eventuality, the Government has trained and deployed 50 medical experts to all the 21 Local Governments of the state where special centers have been created to attend t to victims of the disease.
“We have created special centers across the state where suspected carriers will be subjected to quarantine investigation as a measure to curtail the spread of the disease.
Tangwami said the experts will also train other medical staff in the various cottage hospitals across the state adding that every medical staff in the state will be involved in the exercise to enhance its success.
He said the State Government is closely working with other agencies including the security personnel especially in border areas to prevent inter border spread of the disease as he said preference is accorded border communities as they are highly vulnerable.
“We are synergizing with all relevant agencies including security personnel, motor park officials and other stake holders to ensure that carriers of the virus did not infiltrate the state,” he added.
The Commissioner also appealed to the people to stop bathing or taking excessive salt as that constitutes another health hazard saying that it is not medically wrong for people to be adopting such measures as it will only complicate the issue.
Though many people have resorted to bathing with salt solution just as others resorted to eating of bitter Kola , the federal government said on Friday none of these can cure it yet.
