By Osaigbovo Iguobaro, Benin
Edo state government has initiated stakeholders on Ebola prevention and control in the state. Code-named: `Rapid Response’, the committee is charged with the responsibilities to offer remedial assistance in case of any outbreak of deadly Ebola Virus disease (EVD). Ebola was recently declared a national emergency in the Country, following the death of Patrick Sawyer, the American-Liberia national in Lagos hospital last July, who infected some Nigerians with him with the disease, giving way to anger and frustration. The committee’s spokesman, Mr. Louis Odion, during the inauguration of the Committee on Monday, in Benin City, the Edo state capital, said the state government was determined to prevent the disease from spreading into the state.
The state Commissioner for Health, Dr. (Mrs.) Aihanuwa Eregie said a Special Isolation Unit at Stella Obasanjo Women and Children Hospital in Benin City has been remodeled for the exercise at the moment.
The Centre will collaborate with the National Centre for Disease Control, according to Aihanuwa, who was represented by Dr. Peter Ugbodaga.
She noted that only Lagos state University Teaching Hospital (LUTH) has a diagnostic centre to treat the ailment currently. The Commissioner clarified that it was not true that the state government had handled Ebola with kid-gloves.
The state Chairman, Nigerian Medical Association (NMA), Prof. Ernest Morti assured that doctors will participate in the exercise despite the on-going nationwide strike.
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