The Federal Government has requested for the experimental Ebola drug, ZMapp, from the United States Centre for Disease Control for the treatment of infected Nigerians.
The Minister of Health, Prof. Onyebuchi Chukwu, disclosed this on Wednesdaywhile briefing State House correspondents after the weekly Federal executive Council meeting presided over by Vice President Namadi Sambo.
Two American aid workers, Kent Brantly and Nancy Writebol, were administered with the Ebola test drug and have since shown signs of improvement.
According to Chukwu, the request was made on Tuesday night and the American government’s response was now being awaited.
Declaring the outbreak of Ebola in the country as a national emergency, the Health Minister said FEC’s deliberation centred mainly on the measures being taken to contain the spread of the deadly virus in the country.
He said: “We have a national emergency.
“Indeed, the world is at risk.
“Nobody is immune.
“The experience in Nigeria has alerted the world that it takes just one individual to travel by air to a place to begin an outbreak.
“It is an emergency and secondly everyone is at risk.
“We have recorded seven confirmed cases that were in contact with the first imported case from Liberia.
“Yesterday, August 5th, we recorded first known Nigerian to die.
“She was one of the nurses that attended to the Ebola patient.
“All that have been identified are people who had direct contact with Liberian.
“A total of four are in isolation ward and five are confirmed cases.”
To guide against stigmatisation, Chukwu said the identity of confirmed persons with the Ebola virus disease would not be disclosed.
He said: “That is why we are protecting the identifying those affected.
“Stigmatisation will not solve the problem.
“It is maintaining of good personal hygiene that can solve it.”
The Minister said government has made available N20 million to each state of the federation and the Federal Capital Territory to provide isolation wards for infected people.
However, he regretted that some persons in Lagos were against the setting up of the centre in their neighbourhood.
He therefore, enjoined the media to help educate Nigerians.
In the same vein, Chukwu said the government would set up a special team to provide counselling and psychosocial support to patients, identified contacts and their families, adding: “Government will ensure that no Nigerian out of carelessness will get this disease.”
The minister counselled further on how to avoid the deadly virus: “When you don’t need to give handshake, please don’t.
“Wash your hands and use hand sanitizer as often as you can in the interest of public health.
“The general public does not need hand gloves.
“Health personnel are the most vulnerable and they change the gloves regularly and do not take it home.
“Also, those at immigration points are advised to wear gloves and to change regularly.
“The Ebola organism is weak outside the body, so frequent washing of hands and using hand sanitizer is advisable.
“Don’t try to form your own liquid.”
Chukwu advised families of affected persons to avoid sharing same bed sheets, pillow cases and towels with them as they are at great risk should they do so.
“If you are close to affected persons, you can contact via sneezing, coughing as they pass out droplets,” Chukwu warned.
He also called on doctors to return to work in the interest of the country, adding that government would give attractive package to health workers that would be drafted to Lagos State to assist in containing the Ebola virus.