Lagos government bans transportation of corpses from DRC

chika ebuzor

May 20, 2018 12:54 PM

According to the Lagos State Commissioner for Health, Dr. Jide Idris, the Ebola treatment Centres in the state shave been reactivated.

The Lagos state government has banned the transportation of corpses from Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).

The government of DRC recently announced the outbreak of the deadly virus in North-Western Equateur province on May 8, 2018.

The DRC health ministry also announced three new cases of the virus, bringing the number of affected people to 43.

Pleads with health workers

Idris also pleaded with striking health workers to return to work so as to prepare in case of an outbreak.

The commissioner also revealed that the Federal Ministry of Health is working with the state government to put preventive measures in place.

He said “Lagos in collaboration with Port Health Services of the Federal Ministry of Health (FMOH), has commenced regional screening of passengers from DRC and neighbouring countries for any suspected cases of EVD or other VHFs.”

“There was need for Lagos and the country at large to take precautionary measures to prevent the importation of the disease into the country.

“The Government of Lagos State in collaboration with FMOH is putting measures in place to prevent its entry and spread. Some of these measures are the distribution of factsheets on Ebola for health workers.

“Lagosians should report suspected cases of VHF to the Directorate of Disease Control, Lagos State Ministry of Health on 08037170614 and 09087106072 In addition, the State and LGA Disease Surveillance and Notification of Officers (DSNOs) have been sensitised on Ebola and other Viral Haemorrhagic Fevers, especially on prompt reporting of any detected suspected cases of Ebola and other VHFs by the ministry in collaboration with the World Health Organisation (WHO).

“The ministry collaborated with Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) and West African Health Organisation, WAHO, in March 2018 to organised Yellow fever outbreak simulation exercise to strengthen the preparedness and response of all levels of health workers to health emergencies which has similar principles for control of Ebola Virus Disease.

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“The isolation centre in Mainland Hospital Yaba has been reactivated for treatment of any suspected or confirmed cases. Prepositioning of Personal Protective Equipment and other consumables in public health facilities in the State.

“I want to appeal to all Lagosians to reduce their risk of infection by observing high standard of personal and environmental hygiene such as hand washing with soap and water, avoiding close contact with people who are sick, avoiding touching or washing of dead bodies if not trained to do so and ensuring that objects used by the sick are decontaminated and properly disposed,” he added.

The Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) has also intensified screening tests at airports and other entry points into the country.

The Federal Executive Council (FEC) has also directed the Federal Ministry of Health to step up surveillance activities against Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) in the country.

chika ebuzor