The Federal Government on Wednesday approved a N200 million donation to the Lagos State Government to enable it to combat the outbreak of Ebola virus in the state.
The Minister of Health, Prof. Onyeabuchi Chukwu, made this known when he briefed State House correspondents after the weekly Federal Executive Council meeting, which was presided over by President Goodluck Jonathan.
Onyebuchi said: “Mr. President has approved the release of N200 million to the Lagos State Government as Federal Government’s direct support of the state’s efforts in combating the outbreak of the Ebola (virus) disease.”
The minister added that the US Government would be donating to Nigeria 30 body scanners for measuring temperature at airports and other points of entry and exit across the country.
He said: “In response to the meeting that President Goodluck Jonathan held with the Vice-President of the US, this week the US Government will be donating to Nigeria 30 body scanners for measuring temperature that will be deployed to points of entry and points of exit.”
According to the Minister, the Tony Elumelu Foundation has pledged to donate N50 million towards combating the Ebola virus, while Atedo Peterside’s Foundation will support affected private hospitals with N100,000 per bed.
The Minister, who gave an update on the outbreak of the Ebola virus, said the country had been able to control the spread of the disease.
Chukwu said that only two persons were living with the virus as of the time of filing this report.
He said already, the Federal Government was being commended by various international organisations and the US Government on the ways and manner the outbreak of the virus was being handled.
Chukwu said that the Federal Government was contemplating honouring all victims of the Ebola virus, particularly the medical personnel who died as a result of the disease.
He said already, government was in touch with the family of the doctor who died on Tuesday.
Also addressing the correspondents on the outcome of the meeting, the Minister of State for Health, Dr. Alhassan Khalid, said remarkable results were being recorded by Nigeria in combating the polio virus.
Khalid said that only six cases of polio were recorded this year as against 43 cases recorded last year.
He, however, stated that efforts had been intensified to make the country polio-free in no distance future.