Osun State Governor, Mr. Rauf Aregbesola, has said that Nigeria needs to assists some West African countries including Liberia to fight the Ebola virus disease in order to ensure the nation is free of the virus.
The governor said this in Osogbo on Thursday at the security meeting he convened due to the scare that a student of the Obafemi Awolowo University had contracted the EVD.
A Liberian-American, Patrick Sawyer brought the virus into Nigeria when he came into the country though Murtala International Airport.
According to the governor, the EVD does not constitute only health risk but also a security challenge.
Aregbesola pointed out that all hands must be on deck on how to prevent the disease from entering the Osun State.
He expressed happiness that the OAU student eventually tested negative to the virus saying it would have been difficult for the state with its meagre resources to fight the virus.
He said, “With all these countries around us, there are countries like Liberia, Sierra-Leone, Guinea and Congo that we need to support because they are too close for the comfort of our country. Our prayer is that the disease will not have place to stay in our land.
“We should not see the disease as an ordinary health challenge but a situation that can be seen as a security problem for a state or a nation. That is why I have called all the security chiefs and all stakeholders to this meeting.
“I am happy that we now have a big relief in the state against the rumour of the virus in the state. God forbid it, I have been troubled ever since the news. How could we have coped with the little resources of the state? You should now go out to tell the world that there is no Ebola in Osun and that we will prevent its manifestation here at all cost.”
The Special Adviser to the Governor on Health, Dr. Rafiu Isamotu, noted that the state health ministry was prepared for the disease.
He said, “We have set up various committee comprising five ministries meeting and sensitising people on what to do and we have distributed personal protective equipment to hospitals in the state.
“The ministry is not leaving any stone unturned on the issue of this Ebola virus. Personnel of our ministry are out to sensitize market women, members of National Union of Road and Transport workers and other artisans. Jingle and enlightenment programmes are also on radio and television on how to prevent it.” Click to signup for FREE news updates, latest information and hottest gists everyday
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