The government of Enugu State has stated that it has set up four isolation units to manage suspected Ebola victims, should there be any established case of the virus in state.
This is coming on the heels of fear, panic and confusion that have engulfed state following the confirmation by Minister for Information Labaran Maku on Wednesday that 21 persons were feared to have had contact with a nurse who visited Enugu recently and who took part in the treatment of Patrick Sawyer.
But the Enugu state commissioner for health Dr. George Eze at a press conference yesterday in Enugu announced that the four isolation Centres are in Ikem, Oji-river, Nsukka and Colliery district hospitals.
The commissioner confirmed that the primary contact who visited Enugu was quickly identified and put in isolation while the husband is being quarantined.
He stated that the 21 other are being kept under surveillance
In a related development, the chairman of Nigeria Medical Association, NMA, Enugu chapter Dr. George Ugwu expressed concern about the development disclosing that doctors in the state and all the hospitals in Enugu are also in a state of relative confusion as to where to send suspected cases of Ebola.
“Even before the Federal government accepted that there was a primary contact in Enugu we got wind of the information that one of the persons who treated the primary contact in Lagos found her way to Enugu. We made contacts and found out that it was true.
“The government responded and took away the woman and her immediate contacts; but the woman stayed for some days and we even have it on good source that she even attended a wedding ceremony but we are not too sure at what point.
“We are concerned because Enugu has an international airport coupled with this visit of a primary contact.”
“We are requesting that designated place be put in place and appropriate personal protective equipment provided for health workers.
“We don’t even know as we speak where to source the personal protective equipment; who pays; where is it? We are even ready to buy; they say it’s only WHO that supplies it; we made enquiries, we have tried to push in the Ministry. Doctors in Enugu are worried, concerned and confused.
He noted that the issue of public enlightenment concerning Ebola is very important and that’s why our committee is already on the ground.
He disclosed that next week the NMA in Enugu in conjunction with the University of Nigeria, Enugu Campus will be organizing a public lecture on Ebola. So that we share correct information about this ailment; it is not a matter of going to finish all the salt in the market; that is wrong. We are talking about hand washing and avoiding direct contact with suspects or primary contacts of this illness.
“As a state we are not satisfied with the level of preparedness that is available at the moment.
He cautioned against gatherings of religious groups, faith organizations and other social and political groups warning that such could lead to bodily contact.
“We want to appeal to such organizers to consider, in the light of emerging information confirmed by the federal government that up to 21 persons are being put under surveillance in Enugu; based on that we are making a recommendation that such massive gathering of people should be suspend
