Ebola: Dame Jonathan launches sensitization, awareness campaign in Abuja

By Doyin Ojosipe

The First Lady, Dame Patience Jonathan, yesterday launched an Ebola sensitization and awareness campaign, to bolster awareness of the disease and preventive measures aimed at members of the general public.

The campaign, launched through the First Lady’s non-governmental organisation (NGO), Women for Change & Development Initiative (W4CDI), conducted the sensitization programme on “Empowering women for better health through Public Health Education and Enlightenment on Ebola Virus Disease (EVD), at the W4CDI office in Abuja, the Federal capital Territory (FCT).

Participants at the event were therefore taken through thorough sanitary measures that will help prevent the spread of the virus.

National Coordinator, First Lady’s Women for Change & Development Initiative (W4CDI), Dr. Rabi Ibrahim, who launched the campaign, while addressing participants during a sensitization programme, highlighted the need for everyone to join the fight in keeping the country free from the deadly epidemic.

According to Dr. Ibrahim, the country must be thankful to God for minimising the disease away from escalating, adding that “we must also remain vigilant and continue propagating the awareness campaign to ensure the goal of Nigeria becoming Ebola-free is achieved”.

Citing the popular adage, ‘Cleanliness is next to godliness,’ the Personal Physician to the First Lady, Dr. Taiwo Fasoranti reiterated the importance of personal hygiene and asked Nigerians to observe it.

Other health officials also emphasized that members of the public must intensify their efforts to save the nation from the Ebola scourge, which has caused havoc in other parts of the continent.

The Ebola awareness and sensitization meeting was also attended by many local women as well as other members of the public, amongst others.