Ebola: ECOWAS intensifies measures to contain virus
TBy Romoke W. Ahmad
he ECOWAS Commission in collaboration with the relevant government health authorities has disinfected its Lagos Liaison Office as part of precautionary measures and interventions to stem the spread of the deadly Ebola virus which has claimed more than 900 lives in the region since the outbreak in March 2014.
A team dispatched by the Commission worked with health officials to carry out the fumigation on Thursday which necessitated the closure of the office facilities for a few days.
The Commission also set up a task force to respond to concerns that staff might have and to also update them on measures at preventing and tackling the deadly virus.
Speaking on behalf of the President of the Commission, Ambassador Kadré Desire Ouédraogo, the Vice President, Dr. Toga Gayewea McIntosh, expressed the commission’s condolences and sympathy with member states and families affected by the epidemic.
Mcintosh said this during management/staff interactive session at the Commission’s Abuja Headquarters where he reiterated that ECOWAS was collaborating and working closely with member states, the West African Health Organization (WAHO) and the international community including the World Health Organization ( WHO) to contain the disease.
During the meeting, the staff members were updated on various measures put in place by the commission to protect them and their colleagues in all Community Institutions and Community citizens at large.
On the directive of regional Heads of State and Government, ECOWAS has since set up an Ebola Solidarity Fund.
Acknowledging that the containment and management measures required huge resources, the Vice President expressed the hope that development partners would in their traditional gesture of assistance to the community contribute to the solidarity fund to help rid the region of the deadly virus.
“There is no need for panic,” he assured, explaining that with strict observance of proper personal hygiene coupled with institutional interventions at national and regional levels, and prompt reporting of all suspected cases to the appropriate health facilities the virus would be defeated.
The Vice President also underscored the importance of the sharing of useful information, but warned against rumour mongering so as not to spread or aggravate panic.
The Director of Human Resources, Mr. Albert SiawBoateng, elaborated on the corporate preventive and precautionary measures put in place by the commission, including the installation of automatic hand sanitizers at strategic locations within the building and appropriate measures to be taken by security personnel for the screening of visitors, staff and items.