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LAGOS — Nigeria's Federal Government Tuesday took far-reaching decisions to curtail the spread of the deadly Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) in the country as it postponed the resumption of all primary and secondary schools till October 13.

Announcing the shift in resumption date in Abuja, Minister of Education, Mallam Ibrahim Shekarau said the decision became necessary in view of the risk posed by the Ebola virus which could easily spread through schools.

His words: “All primary and secondary schools, both public and private are to remain closed until Monday October 13, 2014 which is the new school resumption date for all schools throughout the Federation”. The schools were originally scheduled to re-open in the second week of September.

Shekarau, who briefed the press at the end of a meeting with state commissioners of education, added that all on-going summer schools were also affected with immediate effect.

Further, he said the change in the resumption date was also to enable the Federal and state governments, as well as school authorities put in place adequate preventive measures before the pupils returned to school.

“All state Ministries of Education are to immediately organise and ensure that at least two (2) staff in each school, both public and private, are trained by appropriate health workers on how to handle any suspected case of Ebola and also embark on immediate sensitization of all teaching and non-teaching staff in all schools on preventive measures. This training of staff must be concluded not later than September 15, 2014”.

He further directed states Ministries of Education to establish Working and Monitoring Teams for effective supervision of school activities before and after opening of schools.

“Each state Ministry of Education should appoint a designated Desk Officer not later than September 1, 2014, who should also receive appropriate training and who must report on daily basis to the Honourable Commissioner on situation in the schools. The names of such Desk Officers, their phone numbers and e-mail addresses should be communicated to the Headquarters of the Federal Ministry of Education not later than September 1, 2014.

“All primary and secondary schools, both public and private should be provided with a minimum of two (2)  Blood Pressure Measuring Equipment by the State Ministries of Education. The State Ministries should determine the number of such equipment required and forward same to the Federal Ministry of Education not later than September 1, 2014. Ministry of Education will liaise with the Federal Ministry of Health to ensure that appropriate equipment are procured,” he added.

Summer schools closed

“All summer classes currently being conducted by some private schools should be suspended with immediate effect until October 13, 2014.

“All private primary and secondary schools must comply with the directives given under these preventive measures. State governments are called upon to support their Ministries of Education with all necessary funds to ensure effective implementation of these preventive measures”, Shekarau said.

He warned that any private or public school that failed to comply with the directives would be sanctioned.

“Our concern is for the children and we would go to any length to ensure both private and public schools comply. You can imagine if a child is infected in a boarding school of say about 600 children, it would be very dangerous. We are not saying there is Ebola in all states of the Federation but we are putting some preventive measures in place.”

He also advised all tertiary institutions to suspend exchange of staff and students programmes, visits and major international seminars and workshops until further notice. They are also to monitor the movement of foreign students in their campuses. They are to liaise with appropriate government health institutions to organize and ensure effective sensitization programme for all their teaching and non-teaching staff.”

Adedavoh’s sister not positive — FG, LASG

Also, yesterday, cheering news came from both the Federal Government and Lagos State Government clearing the air over the health status of a sister to the late Dr. Stella, Ameyo Adadevoh.

Briefing the press in Abuja on the update of the EVD in the country, Minister of Health, Professor Onyebuchi Chukwu, debunked rumours that a sister to the late Adadevoh tested positive to the virus.

Corroborating the minister in Lagos, State Commissioner for Health, Dr. Jide Idris, who raised alarm over false stories being disseminated via social media, lamented that such rumours being circulated have been a critical and pervading challenge to the fight against the virus.

Idris said:  “These rumours have the capacity to undermine the efforts being made to contain and manage the outbreak as those who ought to present themselves for treatment may get discouraged, malign government in the face of residents and fuel stigmatisation of individuals and businesses.

“I do not want to mention names because that is part of what we are told not to do but I must say that the report on the woman is false. She was discharged yesterday (Monday) as negative.”

We have contained Ebola – Chukwu

Thirty eight days after importation of the Ebola Virus Disease, EVD, into the country by the late American-Liberian, Mr. Patrick Sawyer, the threat of the disease may have been contained, following the survival of eight of the victims, seven of who have been discharged; screening of a total of 321 persons, even as additional 10 contacts were listed Monday in Lagos.

Disclosing this in Abuja, the Health Minister said two more patients with the Ebola virus disease have been discharged from the Isolation Ward in Lagos State, bringing to seven the number of patients that have been treated and declared free from the virus in the country even as the number of deaths from the killer disease scourge still remains five, including the index case, Patrick Sawyer.

Chukwu added that the nation has had 13 cases of EVD including the index case.

“Of these 13, five including the index case unfortunately did not survive the disease and are now late.

However, seven of the infected persons were successfully managed at the isolation ward in Lagos and have been discharged.

“Two of the treated patients, a male doctor and a female nurse were discharged yesterday, both of them primary contacts of Mr. Patrick Sawyer, having satisfied the criteria for discharge.

“As I speak to you, Nigeria has only one confirmed case of EVD, a secondary contact of Mr Patrick Sawyer. This is an indication that, thus far, Nigeria has contained the disease outbreak.

“I wish to reassure Nigerians and indeed the global community that the government shall remain vigilant and will not relent as government continues to work with her partners to ensure that the disease is kept out of the country,” the Minister added.

Besides, the minister informed that 129 persons had been freed from surveillance, having passed through the 21 days incubation period for the virus without testing positive. Similarly, 128 persons are still on the radar of government for the virus, the minister stated.

“All those who are under our surveillance, only one person is symptomatic; we are investigating, the result is not out. All others are not symptomatic,” the Minister stated.

Speaking further, Dr Idris explained that the recovery of seven confirmed cases in the state have buttressed that Ebola infection is not a death sentence.

“The suspected case is awaiting confirmatory test result to inform the next line of action. Currently there are two cases, one confirmed and one suspected in the isolation centre at the facilities in Mainland Hospital, Yaba.”

He disclosed that the seven Ebola-free patients are being re-integrated successfully with their families and communities.

“The common thread amongst the recovered cases is their early presentation for supportive treatment. There is no need to hide friends and relations we suspect have come down with the disease. The earlier they are brought for screening and surveillance, the better the outcome.”

Idris explained that three bodies were cremated and two properly buried after full decontamination of bodies.

Nigeria records 61.5 percent survivors

Nigerian and the world at large yesterday received the cheery news that the country has contained the threat of the dreaded EVD following the discharge of seven infected persons out of the 13 confirmed cases. Currently, only one person is at the isolation centre in Lagos and her condition is stable. Two more patients with the Ebola virus disease have been discharged from the isolation ward in Lagos State,

Nigeria lost five persons to the disease including the index (first) case, Mr Patrick Sawyer, the late Liberian-American who brought the disease to Nigeria on July 20, 2014.

With the development, the disease killed 38.5 per cent of those affected in Nigeria. The World Health Organisation (WHO) estimates that 90 per cent of those affected die from Ebola.

Through sheer determination and care on the part of government and awareness by the citizenry, Nigeria ensured that only 13 persons out of a population of 167 million were affected and 61.5 per cent of Ebola victims survived the disease. The record is bettered by Uganda, which in 2007 had 149 cases and 37 deaths (25 per cent fatality) and Cote d’ Ivoire that had one case and no death in 1994.

Since the outbreak of the disease in four West African countries — Guinea, Sierra Leone, Liberia and Nigeria, late December 2013 and this year, the WHO, as of August 22, said that 2615 cases and 1427 deaths (54.57 per cent fatality) have been recorded.

The breakdown of the figures is as follows:

• Liberia—1082 cases, 624 deaths, 57.67 per cent fatality
• Sierra Leone—935 cases, 392 deaths, 41.93 per cent fatality
• Guinea— 607 cases, 406 deaths, 66.87 per cent fatality
• Nigeria— 13 cases, five deaths, 38.46 per cent fatality.

Nigeria is by far the most populous of these countries with a population of 167 million and yet recorded the least number of cases, an indication of the professional manner the government, health authorities and the citizenry handled the challenge.

The populations of the other countries are: Uganda (37 million), Cote d Ívoire  (16 million), Guinea (10 million), Sierra Leone (six million) and Liberia (3.5 million), whose total of 73 million is about half of Nigeria’s population.



Credit: Vanguard Nigeria