FG seeks US collaboration for Ebola treatment- Minister

Posted by admin American Politics, Latest Politics Wednesday, August 6th, 2014

The Federal Government said on Wednesday that it is seeking collaboration with the Centre for Disease Control in Atlanta, U.S., to deal with Ebola virus disease in Nigeria.

The Minister of Health, Prof. Onyebuchi Chukwu, made this known to newsmen in Abuja on the death of a nurse who treated Patrick Sawyer, the Liberian and American citizen who died of the disease in Lagos late July.

“Nigeria government is doing everything possible to contain the disease.

“Government is in touch with the Centre for Disease Control (CDC) Atlanta, to see if they can extend the experimental drug being administered to the two Americans infected in Liberia.

“Nigeria has now recorded seven confirmed cases of Ebola Virus Disease (EVD), the first one was the index case- the imported case from Liberia of which the victim is now late.

“Yesterday, 5th August, 2014, the first known Nigerian to die of the Ebola virus disease was recorded and this was one of the nurses that attended to the Liberian.

“The other five cases are currently being treated at the Isolation ward in Lagos,’’ he said.

Chukwu said all the Nigerians diagnosed with the Ebola virus had primary contacts with the index case.

He urged all state governments to open up more isolation sites to contain people who might need to be treated or isolated.

The minister assured that the government would stop at nothing to contain the spread of the ailment.

He said the 24-hour Emergency Operations Centre would be fully functional by Thursday to enlighten the public on the disease.

Chukwu said government was also embarking on recruiting additional health personnel to strengthen the team who are currently managing the situation in Lagos

“We are also setting up a special team to provide counselling and psychosocial support to patients, identified contacts and their families,’’ he said.

-Punchwp_posts