By Abdallah el-Kurebe
As the Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) spreads across the country against the efforts of the Federal government to contain it, a 25-year old patient, who was brought to the Accident and Emergency Unit of the Usmanu Danfodiyo University Teaching Hospital (UDUTH), Sokoto with the symptoms of the disease, has been tested negative.
According to part of a statement signed by the Medical Director of UDUTH, Dr. Yakubu Ahmed, a copy of which was made available to Newsdiaryonline.com in Sokoto on Friday, “The hospital has gotten the approval of the Minister of Health, Prof. Onyebuchi Chukwu to inform the general public that the result of the investigation was negative to Ebola, Lassa, Dengue and West Nile diseases.
It further explained that the patient was brought to the hospital on September, 1st on account of vomiting, weakness of the body, cough and bleeding from the nostrils, “a situation that generated fear among the residents of the state.”
The MD further explained that the patient was initially managed at a private hospital on account of gastro-enteritis adding, “he got better and was discharged only to start presenting the afore-mentioned features.”
Newsdiaryonline.com learned that the nasal bleeding in the patient had caused panic among hospital staff as a result of which his sample was taken and sent to the reference laboratory in Lagos for Ebola virus test.
“In line with this, we urge people not to panic and be assured that the Federal government is committed to the safety of Nigerians,” the MD stated.
He commend the efforts of the health workers for their vigilance and courage in the management of the case.
….7,220 physically-challenged persons get N46.93m allowances
As monthly allowances for the month of August, 7,220 physically-challenged persons in Sokoto state on Friday received the sum of N46.93 million from the state government.
The payment exercise, which began in 2007, is conducted through the state Zakkat and Endowment Committee began with the destitutes in Bodinga local government of the state.
Chairman of the Committee, Alhaji Lawal Maidoki said that the gesture was aimed at alleviating the suffering of the already identified needy as well as “discourage the beneficiaries from street begging.
Maidoki appealed to wealthy individuals in the state to complement the efforts of the state government in assisting the less-privileged.
Sheikh Buhari Siriddawa underscored the importance of the Zakkat and endowment institution in the Muslim Umma.
Speaking on behalf of the physically-challenged persons that benefited from the allowances, Alhaji Ahmadu Sifawa commended the state government for the gesture saying, “this has discouraged us from street begging.”
