The Medical and Dental Consultants Association of Nigeria, has warned the Federal Government against closing is borders and grounding of flights to neighboring West African countries following the outbreak of the deadly Ebola Virus Disease, describing it as unjustifiable.
The organization also commended the Federal Government for its response to the Ebola Virus Disease that has so far claimed lives including, its latest victim, a Consultant who attended to the index case, Liberian Patrick Sawyer, Dr Ameyo Stella Adadevoh.
Rising from a meeting of its Executive Committee held in Abuja, MDCAN in a statement issued on Friday by the President, Dr Steven Oluwole also called for better protection for the health personnel in the forefront of the fight against the disease.
“That the control of Ebola Virus Disease is receiving appropriate attention by the Government; Closure of Nigerian Boarders and Grounding of Flights are not justified at the moment given the level of threat and; that greater priority should be given to protection of hospital staff that are caring for Ebola Disease patients” the statement added.
The statement further called on Nigerian communities to cooperate with the government to locate treatment centres in any area of choice by the Ministries of Health.
The government had within the week, had debunked reports of three new cases of the disease had been found, contradicting the position of the Lagos State government.
The Special Assistant, Media to the Minister of Health, Mr Dan Nwomeh, had in the statement said, “The Minister of Health Prof. Onyebuchi Chukwu wishes to reiterate that at present, Nigeria has only two confirmed cases of Ebola Virus Disease.
“This clarification follows media reports of five new cases in Lagos State. This report should be disregarded”
“The minister reiterates that any doubtful information on the outbreak of Ebola Virus Disease in Nigeria should be verified from the Office of the Honourable Minister of Health who has the sole authority to announce confirmed cases as far as disease epidemics in Nigeria are concerned”
“ The minister further reassures the public that any new confirmed case of Ebola Virus Disease will be announced by his office promptly”
“However, as at 7 pm today, there is no other confirmed Ebola Virus Disease case in Nigeria outside the two that are currently under treatment at the isolation ward in Lagos”
ENDS…