Unilorin purchases N1.2m Ebola preventive equipment

From Olanrewaju Lawal, Ilorin

To curtain the spread of the dreaded Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) in and around the University community, the management of the University of Ilorin has procured Ebola preventive equipment worth N1.2 million.

The equipment include personal preventive kits, face masks, boots, hand gloves, automatic soap dispenser, infrared thermometer (non-contact forehead) and disposable bed spreads.

Unveiling the equipment at the university health, the Vice-Chancellor, Prof. AbdulGaniyu Ambali, said that the procurement of the anti-Ebola kits was part of the university’s preparedness to tackle the epidemic headlong.

The vice-chancellor thanked members of the Unilorin Ebola response committee for their foresight and prompt preventive response, adding that all returning and new students would be screened before they would be allowed entrance into the campus.

Ambali also charged the University health workers to be at alert and to follow laid down procedures in the case of an outbreak.

He called on the university’s director of health services, Dr. (Mrs.) Mary Ajiboye, to come up with request for other necessary anti-Ebola kits for immediate approval.

Presenting the equipment to the vice-chancellor, the director, health services, Dr. (Mrs.) Ajiboye, said that the kits are for the protection of staff and students, noting that prevention is better than cure particularly in the case of Ebola.

Ajiboye gave assurance that the university is ready and protected against any eventuality.

The director, who is also a member of the Ebola Response Committee, explained that the Committee would place the hand sanitisers in strategic locations on campus, such as the Senate Building, Faculties, the Walkway and the Unilorin FM Station, among other places.

Earlier, the Unilorin Ebola response committee led by its chairman, Prof. Ayo Ojuawo had briefed the vice-chancellor on the activities of the committee.

Ojuawo told the vice-chancellor that the committee had taken cognizance of the implication of new students being expected on campus soon as well as returning students and students on immersion programme.

He said there is no cause for alarm, as the committee has put measures in place for comprehensive screening of everybody.

The chairman disclosed that all those attending conferences on the campus would be screened, explaining that their movement history and contact details would also be documented.

Ojuawo said that the committee is working closely with the Kwara State Ministry of health committee that is saddled with the responsibility of handling any case of the outbreak of the disease.

He disclosed that portal cabins have also been provided on the main campus and at the college of health sciences to serve as quarantine spots for any suspected Ebola patient on the two campuses.