Below
is the State House press release...
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. Continue...
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 centers, 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 sanitizers 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)
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