After a 42-day incubation which is twice the normal period without any fresh case of the Ebola virus, the World Health Organization officially declared Nigeria free from Ebola Virus Disease on Monday, October 20, 2014.
Basking in the euphoria of the freedom from the dreaded virus, the Lagos state government also, on the same day, Monday,October 20, 2014 disclosed the different proactive plans aimed at totally averting the possible outbreak of the virus.
This was made known through the state Commissioner for Health, Dr. Jide Idris, during a joint media conference in the state secretariat at Alausa, Ikeja.
Among the attendees at the conference was the Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Aderemi Ibirogba, Commissioner for Special Duties, Dr. Wale Ahmed and Special Adviser to the Governor on Public Health, Dr. Yewande Adeshina.
He disclosed the state government’s intention to give a sum of N50 million to First Consultant Medical Centre, Obalende, where the first case was recorded following Patrick Sawyer’s sick visit. This he said was not only an attempt to compensate them but the government’s quota of promoting goodwill.
Also, they intend to give an undisclosed amount to other Ebola causalities and survivors in the state in a bid to support their means of livelihood.
The Lagos state commissioner for health who described the outbreak and the eventual containment of the Ebola in the state and the country as phenomenon, noted that significantly, till date Nigeria has contributed only 0,22 percent and 0.18 percent to global burden of suspected, probable, confirmed cases and deaths respectively, Vanguard reports.
Idris stated that 891 cumulative number of contacts were recorded nationally, 365 in Lagos and 526 in Rivers while contacts that completed 21 days follow-up nationally is 890, Lagos 365 and 525 in Rivers and a total of eight deaths recorded in all.
While recounting the various preventive measures to be taken by the state government subsequently, Idris stressed that there was the need to address the economic consequences under following consideration; “Support to affected persons including those alive and N50 million lump sum as business support gesture to First Consultant Medical Centre.
“This is with view to getting people, businesses back on their feet and for businesses to re-secure patronage of their customers.”
