7th August, 2014
Jethro Ibileke/Asaba
Even though it is yet to record any case of the deadly Ebola Virus Disease (EVD), the Delta state government has announced the designation of four special cremation centres across the state for persons who might die of the disease.
Commissioner for Health, Dr. Joseph Otumara, who made this disclosure, said the special cremation centres was part of the pre-emptive measures to control the spread of the disease if there is an outbreak.
According to the commissioner who is also the chairman of the inter-ministarial committee set up for the prevention and management of the deadly virus, the cremation centres would be sited Agbor, Ughelli, Warri and Sapele.
He said proximity to the hospitals designated as isolation centres for handling of suspected cases of Ebola virus would be taken into consideration in erecting the special cremation centres.
Health facilities to be used as isolation centres were listed to include Warri Central Hospital, Ughelli Central Hospital, Sapele Central Hospital, Agbor Central Hospital, Oleh Central Hospital, Eku Baptist Government Hospital and Delta State University Teaching Hospital (DELSUTH), Oghara.
Otumara explained that a victim can “incubate the virus without symptoms for 2-21 days, the average being 5-8 days before becoming ill. They are not contagious until they are acutely ill. Only when ill does the viral load express itself first in the blood and then in other bodily fluids (including vomitus, faeces, urine, breast milk, semen and sweat).”
Throwing more light on the cremation centres, the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Environment, Mrs. Felicia Adun, explained that the locations would be fenced with gates, while a platform would be built where the corpse would be placed and burnt.
“It will be well-disinfected with chemicals to ensure that an infected corpse is well cremated,” she said, adding that the ash of the cremated corpse may be released to the family if they want proper burial for the deceased.