… Commends government’s Response
The Medical and Dental Consultants Association of Nigeria (MDCAN), has warned the federal government against closing its borders and grounding flights to neighbouring West African countries following the outbreak of the deadly Ebola Virus Disease, describing it as unjustifiable.
The organisation commended the federal government for its response to the Ebola Virus Disease that has so far claimed lives including Dr. Ameyo Stella Adadevoh, a consultant who attended to the index case, Liberian Patrick Sawyer.
Rising from a meeting of its executive committee in Abuja, MDCAN in a statement issued on Friday by its President, Dr. Steven Oluwole also called for better protection for the health personnel in the forefront of the fight against the disease.
“It is good that the control of Ebola Virus Disease is receiving appropriate attention by the government; however closure of Nigerian borders and grounding of flights are not justified at the moment given the level of threat,” Oluwole said.
“Rather, greater priority should be given to protection of hospital staff that is caring for Ebola Disease patients.”
The statement further called on Nigerian communities to cooperate with the government to locate treatment centres in any area of choice by the Ministries of Health.
The government had within the week, debunked reports that three new cases of the disease had been found.
The Special Assistant, Media to the Minister of Health, Mr Dan Nwomeh, had in the statement confirmed only two cases of Ebola Virus Disease.
“This clarification follows media reports of five new cases in Lagos State. This report should be disregarded,” Nwomeh had said.
“The minister reiterates that any doubtful information on the outbreak of Ebola Virus Disease in Nigeria should be verified from the Office of the Honourable Minister of Health who has the sole authority to announce confirmed cases as far as disease epidemics in Nigeria are concerned.”
The minister further reassured the public that any new confirmed case of Ebola would be announced by his office promptly.
“However, as at 7 pm today, there is no other confirmed Ebola Virus Disease case in Nigeria outside the two that are currently under treatment at the isolation ward in Lagos,” Nwomeh had concluded.
