FG working to curtail spread of Ebola disease —Minister

By Jimitota Onoyume

Minister of Health, Professor Onyebuchi Chukwu, has hailed effort of the Rivers State government in the fight against Ebola Virus Disease, EVD, in the state.

Chukwu, who spoke, weekend in Port Harcourt, after a visit to the Ebola treatment centre in Emohua Local Government Area of the state, said the Federal Government was working to curtail the spread of the disease in the country.

He said no fewer than 400 contact persons were traced over the disease, while about 350 have been cleared, adding that no fewer than 400 contact persons were traced over the disease, while about 350 had been cleared.

He noted that eight persons had been treated of the virus and discharged across the country out of the 18 confirmed to be infected with the virus. He said only one patient was at the Ebola treatment centre in Port Harcourt.

He said: “I want to thank the Rivers State Government for making the facility available. We encourage other states to also learn from them. It is not for any particular state. We have it in Lagos, and we are now having it in Rivers.

“We are in total control of Ebola in Nigeria. We will deal with it in Rivers State the way we dealt with it in Lagos State. If we have one or two positive cases in Rivers State, that is not a problem.

“Government is on top of the situation. You are free to come to Rivers State. Be rest assured that you cannot get Ebola because you came to Rivers State. Please anyone who has any legitimate reason to visit Rivers State should be free to do.

“I can assure that the Federal Government has been spending money indirectly in support of the laudable efforts of the Rivers State Government to contain the spread of Ebola in the state. We have joint team comprising doctors and medical experts from different organisations in the world. Rivers State has done well.

“More people die from malaria than Ebola. So, why don’t we stigmatise those who have malaria? Even though there is no known cure, one can successfully manage Ebola.”

- Culled from : http://www.vanguardngr.com