Since the emergence of the Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) in Nigeria over a month ago, the country’s image in the international scene appears to have taken an upward swing. This is due to the swift manner Africa’s most populous country responded to curtail the spread of the disease that is ravaging some countries in Africa, writes Head, News Desk, VICTOR EBIMOMI.
Onyebuchi Chukwu
Liberia, Sierra Leone and Guinea are in the grip of the Ebola Virus Disease (EVD).
Ebola virus (abbreviated EBOV) was first described in 1976. Today, the International Committee on Taxonomy of Viruses lists the virus as the single member of the species Zaire ebolavirus, which is included into the genus Ebolavirus, family Filoviridae, order Mononegavirales. The name Ebola virus is derived from the Ebola River – a river that was at first thought to be in close proximity to the area in Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), previously called Zaire, where the first recorded Ebola virus disease outbreak occurred – and the taxonomic suffix, virus (Wikipedia).
Other neighbouring countries are so terrified that they have to close their borders. EVD is on the rampage. Given its distance to those countries, Nigeria was in no way panicky; it considered itself free. But on July 24, it had the feel of the dreaded disease. A Liberian-American known as Patrick Sawyer, who flew into the country on July 20 and tested positive at a private hospital in the highly-populated city of Lagos, was confirmed dead.
When the news was broken by the government, the whole nation was instantly thrown into confusion, as people became agitated. The fear went viral like the disease itself. But before the fear could gain a foothold, the government swung into action. It started by tracking those in primary contact with the late Sawyer, isolated them and gave them the needed medical attention. Simultaneously, there was massive public enlightenment on how to be protected against the disease and to stop its spread.
When two of the people who had contact with Sawyer died of the disease, the government raised the bar. The state governments, particularly Lagos where it all started, activated all the necessary medical facilities and other related equipment needed to curtail the disease. Nothing was left to chance as the Commissioner for Health, Dr. Jide Idris, and his team started working round the clock.
Also, President Goodluck Jonathan summarily summoned the state governors to find a way out. And without much ado, he declared a national emergency on the disease while the Federal Ministry of Health and its counterparts at the states level went into synergy to prevent the spread of the virus, which, according to reports, has killed over 1,200 people.
The federal government also set up National Committee on Ebola, a research group headed by the Minister of Health, Professor Onyebuchi Chukwu.
At the heat of the fear and confusion generated by the disease, on Wednesday, August 6, the federal government, through the Minister of Information, Labaran Maku, announced that all those who had had primary contact with Ebola patients had been quarantined, while those who had secondary contacts have also been traced.
As at then, he explained that “so far, the number of people that have been traced is 198. Out of this number, 177 are in Lagos and are being traced. Some are in quarantine and some are being monitored by health specialists. Twenty-one persons in Enugu are also watched.” The Enugu issue happened because one of the nurses that were involved in the treatment of the index case disobeyed medical instruction not to travel.
By Friday, August 22, Nigeria had recorded 19 serious cases so far – the late Sawyer and 18 Nigerians, including spouses of two primary contacts to the index case. And as at Tuesday, August 19, the country only recorded five deaths, while four patients had been successfully treated and discharged to re-unite with their families. Six persons were in the isolation wards for intensive care.
From all indications, Nigeria, the most populous black nation on earth, appears to be winning the war against the disease. The government’s swift response did, however, not go unnoticed in the international community, and it has consequently attracted commendations and raised the nation’s global status in this regard.
The World Health Organisation (WHO), which has voiced serious concern about the epidemic in West Africa, praises Nigeria’s effort, saying there are “encouraging signs”, which gives hope that much is being done to curtail the disease.
The United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) also has good words for the country. Assistant Country Representative of the UNFPA, Osareti Adori, on Tuesday, August 12, said the agency has shown commitment to fight the disease and to ensure it does not spread to other parts of the country.
He was speaking at the opening of a five-day workshop on Minimum Intervention Service Package for Traumatised Women and Children, organised by the Lagos State Ministry of Women Affairs and Poverty Alleviation (WAPA) in Agege, Lagos.
Commending the federal and Lagos governments’ efforts, he said: “What is important is the will. For the first time in a long time, I’ve not seen this country take so serious any issue like the Ebola issue both at the federal and state level. I see a strong will to contain this situation, and where there is a will, there is a way.
“This thing happened just about three weeks ago, and if you look at what they have done now, compared to where we are coming from, I would think that if the momentum continues, with the assistance of the international community, in a short while, we would be able to contain the Ebola virus.”
The United States of America, though has ruled out sending the trial drug, Zmapp, to Nigeria, claiming that what it has in stock for now is insufficient, it also joined in lauding the commitment of the government in tackling the disease.
Speaking in Abuja when he returned from his country penultimate Thursday, U.S. Ambassador to Nigeria, James Entwistle, declared that he was very impressed with the government’s moves so far.
“I noticed that when I flew back on Thursday night into this country, before I left the plane, I filled out a questionnaire. I was very impressed because I even had to put my seat number, which is a very good idea. So if you ever have to trace the guy sitting next to me, you know where I am. So I have been impressed by these things and I encourage the government of Nigeria to keep at it, as I know they will,” he said.
In fact, many Nigerians seem to have shed their initial fear and somehow now repose their confidence in government as far as tackling the scourge is concerned.