Ebola: MDCAN Hails FG Over Response, Warns Against Closing Borders, Grounding Flights

SAN FRANCISCO, August 23, (THEWILL) - The Medical and Dental Consultants Association of Nigeria (MDCAN) has hailed the Federal Government over the response to the Ebola Virus Disease, which has so far claimed four lives including its latest victim, a Consultant who attended to the index case, Liberian Patrick Sawyer, Dr. Ameyo Stella Adadevoh.

The Association however warned against against closing the nation's borders and grounding of flights to neighbouring West African countries because of the Ebola outbreak, saying such actions won't be justifiable.

In a statement signed by its President, Dr Steven Oluwole, after its Executive Committee meeting in Abuja on Friday, the association also called for better protection for health personnel in the forefront of the fight against the disease.

'That the control of Ebola Virus Disease is receiving appropriate attention by the Government; closure of Nigerian borders and grounding of flights are not justified at the moment given the level of threat and; that greater priority should be given to protection of hospital staff that are caring for Ebola disease patients,' the statement said.

It further called on Nigerian communities to cooperate with the government to locate treatment centres in any area of choice by the Ministries of Health.

The Federal Government had debunked reports that three new cases of the disease had been found thus contradicting the position of the Lagos State Government.

A statement signed by the Special Assistant, Media, to the Minister of Health, Mr. Dan Nwomeh, said, 'The Minister of Health Prof. Onyebuchi Chukwu, wishes to reiterate that at present, Nigeria has only two confirmed cases of Ebola Virus Disease.

'This clarification follows media reports of five new cases in Lagos State. This report should be disregarded.

'The minister reiterates that any doubtful information on the outbreak of Ebola Virus Disease in Nigeria should be verified from the Office of the Honourable Minister of Health who has the sole authority to announce confirmed cases as far as disease epidemics in Nigeria are concerned.

' The minister further reassured the public that any new confirmed case of Ebola Virus Disease will be announced by his office promptly.

'However, as at 7 pm today, there is no other confirmed Ebola Virus Disease case in Nigeria outside the two that are currently under treatment at the isolation ward in Lagos.'