20th October, 2014
Kazeem Ugbodaga
The Lagos State Government has given N50 million to First Consultant Medical Centre, Obalende, Lagos to support the hospital to recover in the aftermath of the deadly Ebola Virus Disease, EVD, outbreak in the hospital.
It was the hospital that discovered that the index case, late Patrick Sawyer of Liberia had Ebola and quickly reported the matter to the state government which helped in curtaining the spread of the virus in the country. The hospital also lost four of its staff including its most Senior Consultant, Dr. Stella Adedavoh.
At a news conference on Monday at the Bagauda Kaltho Press Centre, Alausa, Ikeja, Lagos, Southwest Nigeria, Commissioner for Health, Dr. Jide Idris said government planned to support those affected by the EVD, including those alive.
“We are giving N50 million lump sum as business support gesture to First Consultant Medical Centre. This is with a view to getting people and businesses back on their feet and for businesses to re-secure patronage of their customers.
“It needs clearly be stated that this is not an attempt at compensation but a gesture of goodwill on the part of government,” he said.
Idris also disclosed that the state government had concluded plans to render technical assistance to Sierra Leone to help contain the spread of Ebola in the region, adding that if the nation was not assisted, other nations were not safe from Ebola infection.
According to him, lots of people had indicated interest to go to Sierra Leone on volunteering mission, saying that “we have done the cost and has written to the Federal Government and the World Health Organisation. We are ready. In fact, there are 28 people who are ready and have indicated interest to go to Sierra Leone.
“I use this medium to urge and encourage private organisation who wish to join in this good work to come on board. This is the time to do so, especially those that had earlier indicated interest or made pledges,” he said.
Idris urged Lagosians to remain calm and eternally vigilant as government remained committed to ensuring that Lagos State and in deed Nigerians remained Ebola free, adding that the relevant digital platforms were still very active and should be taken advantage of.
Since the nation has been declared Ebola-free, the commissioner said the next line of action by the government, included the Mainland Hospital, Yaba, being decontaminated and re-stocked while training of staff is ongoing in readiness to take on or care for any known or emerging epidemic.
“We are strengthening of point of entry activities in collaboration with the Federal Government at the airports and sea ports, but especially at the land borders which presently pose some kind of challenge because of the porous and yet to be captured international land crossing.
“There is ongoing intensification of training and re-training on all aspects of EVD management, with same involving health workers in both the public and private health sectors, laboratory, workers, community mobilizers, surveillance teams, morgue operators,” he said.
The commissioner stated that upgrading of surveillance system remained vital with active surveillance for deaths, hospitalisation and illness in healthcare workers, routine surveillance for viral haemorrhagic fever among patients and others.