The World Health Organisation (WHO) has declared Nigeria Ebola-free.The declaration was made on Monday by WHO in Berlin,Germany and announced by representative Rui Gama Vaz, while speaking in the country’s capital Abuja.
In his speech Vaz described the feat achieved by the country as a “spectacular success story”.
According to WHO recommendations,” the end of an Ebola virus disease outbreak in a country can be declared once 42 days have passed and no new cases have been detected. The 42 days represents twice the maximum incubation period for Ebola (21 days). This 42-day period starts from the last day that any person in the country had contact with a confirmed or probable Ebola case.”
The Ebola virus entered Lagos on 20th July via an infected Liberian air traveller, who died 5 days later. At the departure airport, he was visibly very ill, lying on the floor of the waiting room while awaiting the flight.
He vomited during the flight, on arrival and, yet again, in the private car that drove him to a private hospital. The protocol officer who escorted him later died of Ebola.
At the hospital, he told staff that he had malaria and denied any contact with an Ebola patient. As was learned later, his sister was a confirmed case who had died from the disease in Liberia. The traveller visited his sister while in hospital and attended her traditional funeral and burial ceremony.
As malaria is not transmitted from person to person, no staff at the hospital took protective precautions. Over the coming days, 9 doctors and nurses became infected and 4 of them died.
On Friday, Senegal was also been described as officially Ebola-free.
As of 14th October 9,216 suspected cases and 4,555 deaths had been reported and WHO has said that these numbers may be vastly underestimated.
In swift reaction, President Goodluck Jonathan has said that he welcomes the declaration by WHO that Nigeria is now officially Ebola-free after 42 days without any incidence of the Ebola Virus Disease.
Jonathan dedicated the Ebola-free nation certification to the many patriotic health workers, volunteers and ordinary Nigerians who worked tirelessly to make the goal possible.
The president expressed his thoughts on the declaration in a statement signed by his media and publicity aide, Reuben Abati.
“The President seizes this opportunity to also reiterate his appreciation of the contributions of state governments, WHO and other international health organisations, relatives of infected persons and other Nigerians who either courageously underwent the rigours of being quarantined or complied with all directives issued by health authorities to defeat the virus,” the statement read.
“He believes that Nigeria’s globally-acclaimed success against Ebola is a testimony to what Nigerians can achieve if they set aside their differences and work together, and calls on Nigerians to strive to replicate the unity of purpose and all-hands-on-deck approach adopted against Ebola in other areas of national life.”
Jothathan also warned that the entire country must remain fully alert and vigilant against the re-entry of the virus.
He said he fully shares the view expressed by WHO in its congratulatory message to Nigeria that while a battle against the virus has been won, the war will only truly end when West Africa, Africa and the world are declared free of Ebola.
He thus directed 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.
He also urged all Nigerians to continue to follow the anti-Ebola advisories on sanitation and personal hygiene issued by Federal and State Health authorities.
Also former Vice President Atiku Abubakar also commended the successful eradication of the virus in the country, saying it is a feat that would change the negative perception of the country by the outside world.
In a press statement issued by his media office in Abuja on Monday, the former Vice President said the Government of Nigeria, 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 dealing with.
He said the successful eradication of Ebola and the declaration of Nigeria as Ebola-free zone was a clear demonstration of the outcome of collaboration, hard work and commitment of the Government of Nigeria, Lagos and Rivers States’ governments.
Atiku said he was superbly impressed with the amazing manner Nigeria had proved to the world that it had the will, commitment and human resources to deal with critical challenges of this nature.
He explained that when leaders work together for the common good of the society, there was always a ray of hope for the nation.
Atiku also extolled the virtues of the medical personnel during the battle to control the spread of Ebola. He said he was touched by the sacrifices of these medical personnel who sacrificed their own lives to save others.
However, he advised the entire country not to rest on its oars until the last vestiges of the Ebola virus are destroyed.
He said every country must demonstrate the capacity to carry its fate in its own hands instead of relying on the outside world, and that he was proud Nigeria demonstrated that capacity.
