The
Abuja Minister, Bala Mohammed, has designated the General Hospital,
Kuje, in Kuje Area Council, as Isolation Centre for possible
Ebola-infected persons.
The minister also inaugurated a 25-member committee to work out
modalities for responding to the threat of Ebola virus and create
awareness on the nature and symptoms of the virus.
Mr. Mohammed made this known during a high powered stakeholder’s interactive forum in Abuja on Monday. Continue...
He said the hospital was chosen because it would be easy for the
people of Abuja to access it. He said a ward would be designated in the
hospital where the Ebola patients could be quarantined and be on
surveillance, among others.
He said that adequate infrastructure and equipment would be put in
place to manage affected persons and guard against the spread of the
virus.
“All precautionary measures have been put in place to ensure that the
designation of the ward will not endanger the health workers and
residents of Kuje,” he said.
However, the Chairman of Kuje Area Council, Shabal Tete, said the
designation of the hospital as Ebola centre was not a welcome
development to the people of the area.
According to him, this was because most of the people are “illiterate.”
The minister instructed the chairman of the council to sensitise his
constituents, rather than preventing the Federal Capital Territory, FCT,
Administration from using the hospital.
“The hospital is the only option for us to isolate as a centre for
Ebola patients; Gwagwalada hospital that is for FCT has been taken from
us, we have no other option than to use it. We will put all
infrastructure needed in place to avoid its spread; doctors will be
given adequate training and best way to curtail the disease from
spreading,” Mr. Mohammed said.
He, therefore, advised the six area council chairmen to sensitise
their people on routine cleaning and disinfecting their hands at all
times.
Demola Onakomaiya, the Secretary of the FCT Health Secretariat, said
the transmission of the disease in human was through direct contact with
blood or body secretion, among others.
Mr. Onakomaiya denied the recent rumours of Ebola in the territory,
adding that the three suspected cases being raised by FCT residents were
mere rumours.
According to him, the people at risk of the disease are the health
care givers and family members of infected persons. There is no specific
medication or vaccine for its cure.
Rui Jaz, World Health Organisation Country Representative, said the
organisation would support the administration in its plans to curtail
the disease.
Mr. Jaz said it was untrue that bitter kola could cure the disease as
speculated, adding that it had not been proven by scientists.
Akeem Lawal, Public Relations Officer of Nigeria Medical Association,
FCT chapter, said the association had held two meetings since the
outbreak of the disease.
“We are planning to hold another meeting very soon to call off our strike that has lasted for more than six weeks,” he said.
Source: NAN
