President
Goodluck Ebele Jonathan Friday in Abuja declared the control and
containment of the Ebola virus in Nigeria, a National Emergency.
Accordingly,
the President has directed the Federal Ministry of Health to work in
collaboration with the State Ministries of Health, the National Centre
for Disease Control (NCDC), the National Emergency Management Agency
(NEMA) and other relevant agencies to ensure that all possible steps are
taken to effectively contain the threat of the Ebola virus in line
with international protocols and best practices.
President
Jonathan also approved a Special Intervention Plan and the immediate
release of N1.9 billion for its implementation, to further strengthen
on-going steps to contain the virus such as the establishment of
additional isolation centres, case management, contact tracing,
deployment of additional personnel, screening at borders, and the
procurement of required items and facilities.
The
President commends the vigilance of aviation and health authorities in
Lagos who identified and isolated the index case in Nigeria, the late
Patrick Sawyer, an American-Liberian who flew into the country.
He
also applauds the good work of health authorities at both State and
Federal levels who have traced persons who had contact with him,
isolated other identified cases and embarked on massive public
enlightenment.
President
Jonathan calls for even greater vigilance and co-operation at all levels
to stop the Ebola virus from spreading further.
As
the effective implementation of the Federal Government’s Special
Intervention Plan will require other stakeholders to take certain
precautionary steps that are supportive of the government’s initiative,
the President calls on members of the public to follow all directives by
health authorities and report any suspected Ebola case to the nearest
health facility for immediate medical attention.
He
also enjoins the public to desist from spreading false information
about Ebola which can lead to mass hysteria, panic and misdirection,
including unverified suggestions about the prevention, treatment, cure
and spread of the virus.
President
Jonathan urges that the movement of corpses from one community to the
other, and from overseas into the country should be stopped forthwith.
Every death should be reported to the relevant authorities, and special
precautions should be taken in handling corpses.
Religious
and political groups, spiritual healing centres, families, associations
and other bodies should, in the meantime, discourage gatherings and
activities that may unwittingly promote close contact with infected
persons or place others at risk.
Public
enlightenment agencies, including privately-owned media organs should
support government’s efforts and disseminate correct information in all
Nigerian languages, about preventive personal hygiene measures, the
nature of the Ebola virus, modes of transmission and consequential steps
to be taken in the event of infection.
President
Jonathan appeals to State governments and private day care, nursery,
primary and secondary schools owners to consider the option of extending
the current school holiday until such a time when a national
reassessment of the level of the Ebola threat is conducted.
The
President further directs the National Emergency Management Agency and
similar agencies at the state level to strengthen their public
enlightenment campaigns and to use their networks to distribute hand
sanitisers and other protective items nationwide. He has also directed
the aviation and health authorities to embark on immediate
intensification of the screening of travelers at all the nation’s
borders.
President Jonathan
reassures everyone that the Government of Nigeria will continue to take
every step, deploy all resources, and mobilize every support and
assistance to check the spread of Ebola in the country.
Medical
workers and other health professionals are expected to regard this
declaration of a National Emergency as a patriotic call to duty and
service.
Reuben Abati
Special Adviser to the President
(Media and Publicity)
August 8, 2014
Special Adviser to the President
(Media and Publicity)
August 8, 2014
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