Niger State Government on Thursday said it has approved the sum of four hundred million naira to contain any outbreak of the dreaded Ebola Virus Disease and for the establishment of isolation and quarantine centres across the state.
Commissioner for Health and Hospital services, Hajia Hadiza Abdullahi at a news conference in Minna, disclosed that government is already creating awareness among the people to ensure the disease do not enter the state.
She said this is a proactive measure in ensuring that the dreaded Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) which has so far claimed seven lives in parts of the country do not gain entry into the state
According to her “the government has set up a committee which has prepared a N400m budget for the containment of the disease and out of the amount the completion of work on the buildings earmarked for the quarantine centers as well as their furnishing.
“The state government has awarded contract worth N122m for the purchase of infrared Computerised Thermometer Scanning Machine to be installed at the IBB specialist hospital. Another N33.7 million for the re-roofing and fencing of the Minna social rehabilitation center.”
She also assured that there is no reported outbreak or case of the EVD in any part of the state but that the government will not wait for it to come hence the proactive measures.
Hajia Abdullahi further disclosed that the establishment of a quarantine and isolation centers will be in Minna and two other senatorial districts, adding that general hospitals in Minna and other local government areas will be used as isolation wards for patients because the hospitals have detached areas that can be used for such projects.
Hadiza said that the government has already commenced sensitization of Muslim clerics across the state on the steps to take in the event of a Muslim patient dying as a result of infection by the disease explaining that the mode of burial of an Ebola victim as accepted by the Holy Quran was being taught the clerics.
The Commissioner said that part of the sensitization of the public is the introduction of special radio and television programmes where the public will be able to contact experts for information on how to manage the disease.