Reps alert on fresh Ebola crisis
Speaker House of Representatives, Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila
By Kunle Ilyasu
The Nigerian House of Representatives yesterday asked the
Federal Government to undertake precautionary measures at all the airports,
seaports and land borders with the view to curbing the re occurrence of Ebola
disease in Nigeria.
The resolution of the House followed the adoption of a
motion sponsored by Hon. Paschal Chigozie Obi who raised alarm on the recent
outbreak of Ebola Virus in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) in March,
2019 where over 1,000 cases of Ebola infections were reported.
In the lead debate, Hon. Obi who expressed concern over the
spread of Ebola, in the past, from Guinea, Sierra-Leone, Liberia to Nigeria,
when a Liberian, Mr. Patrick Sawyer, arrived Lagos by an airplane and infected
many Nigerians, including doctors and nurses, harped on the need for Nigerian
Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) to curtail the menace of Ebola, ranging from
issuing an alert to Airline Operators directing them to ensure a high level of
vigilance and ensure that proper checks were carried out on passengers and
other relevant measures such as providing sanitizers and clinical equipment,
where necessary.
According to him, World Health Organisation (WHO) on August
8, 2019 took conscious step to sensitize the public by declaring Ebola outbreak
a public health emergency of international concern and also raising alarm on
the need for nations to take preventive actions against the possible further
outbreak of Ebola virus.
In the bid to curb the outbreak of the deadly disease in the
country, the House urged Federal Ministry of Health to deploy necessary
materials and personnel at the air ports, sea ports and land borders for
carrying out screening exercise on passengers.
The House also stressed the need for Federal Government to
set aside funds for the management of Ebola virus in in the event of its
reoccurrence in Nigeria.
To this end, the House mandated the Committees on Health
care Services and Health Institutions to ensure that relevant agencies take
precautionary measures to avert the reoccurrence of the Ebola disease.
Also at plenary, the House urged President Muhammadu Buhari
to recognize the heroic acts of patriotism of Dr. Stella Ameyo Adadevoh and her
medical team as well as all Nigerians who died from the Ebola virus.
To this end, the House urged the Presidency to confer a
befitting Posthumous National Honour on Dr. Adadevoh, just as it tasked Federal
Ministry of Health to assess and certify Nigeria’s emergency preparedness
against unexpected epidemics.
In his lead debate, Hon. Akiolu Kayode applauded Dr. Stella
Ameyo Adadevoh, a Nigerian physician, risked her life in a bid to curb the
spread of the Ebola Virus in Nigeria.
He also applauded Dr. Adadevoh’s bravery and professionalism
which saved Nigeria from a devastating impact of an uncontrolled outbreak of
the Ebola Virus and thus prompted the Government, good spirited individuals and
organizations, and the international community to deploy resources to curb the
outbreak of Ebola virus.
The House also called on Federal Ministry of Education and
other related authorities to ensure the inclusion of the heroic deeds of Dr.
Adadevoh by naming one of the Lagos hospitals after her.
The House further urged Federal Government to recognise and
provide every support necessary for Ebola virus survivors and the families of
Ebola victims.
While ruling, the Deputy Speaker, Hon. Idris Wase mandated
the Committee on Healthcare Services to ensure compliance.
Reps alert on fresh Ebola crisis
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