States devise strategies to contain Ebola virus
unawares, he said, the state would leave no stone unturned to prevent the virus from spreading to the state. Other measures according to him, were the setting up of committees in all general hospitals, acquisition of ambulances for each senatorial district for conveying suspected patients as well as an aggressive public enlightenment.
Meanwhile, the Edo State government has banned the sale of bush meat in the Government House as well as the serving of bush meat delicacies in all government functions. This was disclosed in Benin by the bush meat sellers association vice chairman, Mrs. Comfort Omoruyi, who condemned the action.
Omoruyi who dropped the hint during an interactive session with newsmen in Benin, said over 50 percent of their patronage was from government circles.
She expressed reservations on what she termed ``a propaganda tool’ by some developed nations on the mode of transmitting the virus and urged developed nations to take responsibility for the Ebola virus for allegedly injecting vaccines into some animals which have now mutated and spread to other countries.
The Bayelsa State government also set up a 13-man taskforce to deal with any outbreak and liaise with local, national and international health institutions to confront any case of the virus in the state.
Addressing journalists after a State Executive Council meeting in Yenagoa, the Commissioner for Health, Dr. Ayibatonye Owei, who is also the chairman of the taskforce, said measures being put in place include training programmes for all health personnel across the state since they are mostly at the risk of contracting the virus. Emergency phone lines were provided for contact on any suspected case. The lines are; 09033107050, 09033148929, 08117168685 and 07010008755.
In Kaduna, government said it would soon inaugurate a task force, while disclosing that a quarantine centre has been designated in preparation for possible infiltration.
The Director of Public Health in the state ministry of health, Dr. Ado Zakari, said the taskforce would oversee all activities on Ebola.
Niger State Commissioner for Information, Danladi Ndayebo, said the state government had concluded arrangements to establish containment centres in each of the three senatorial zones of the state to check any outbreak.
Ndayebo told newsmen in Minna that plans were also underway to put in place a quarantine centre in the state capital.
“While the state government advises strict adherence to hand washing and prompt reporting of suspected cases for support, we call on citizens to be calm as no case has been reported in the state”, Ndayebo said.
The Kogi State branch of the Medical Health Workers Union of Nigeria (MHWUN) has in the meantime advised health workers in the state to wear gloves and aprons for any treatment of persons infected with the virus.
The state chairman, Comrade Onuh Edoka, said in Lokoja that some measures had been put in place to safeguard members against infection.
Edoka said besides wearing of gloves and aprons, members should disinfect their homes after work.