Despite the declaration of Nigeria by the World Health Organisation (WHO) as Ebola-free zone, President Goodluck Jonathan and former Vice President Atiku Abubakar have warned Nigerians not be carried away by joy but to remain fully alert to possible re-entry of Ebola patient into the country.
President Jonathan emphasized that the entire country should remain fully alert and vigilant against the re-entry of the virus.
The President was elated by WHO’s declaration of Nigeria as officially Ebola-free after 42 days without any incidence of the Ebola Virus Disease but called on all Nigerians to continue to follow the anti-Ebola
advisories on sanitation and personal hygiene issued by Federal and State Health authorities.
President Jonathan dedicates the certification to the many patriotic health workers, volunteers and ordinary Nigerians who worked tirelessly, some of them paying the ultimate price, to stop the deadly virus in its track after it entered the country in July this year.
The President reiterated his appreciation of the contributions of state governments, WHO and other international health organizations, relatives of infected persons and other Nigerians who either courageously underwent the rigours of being quarantined or complied with all directives issued by health authorities to defeat the virus.
He said that Nigeria’s globally-acclaimed success against Ebola is a testimony to what Nigerians can achieve if they set aside their differences and work together, even as he called on Nigerians to strive to replicate the unity of purpose and all-hands-on-deck approach adopted against Ebola in other areas of national life.
President Jonathan expressed joy in the opinion expressed by WHO in its congratulatory message to Nigeria “that while we have won a battle against Ebola, the war will only truly end when West Africa, Africa and the world are declared free of Ebola.”
The President has therefore directed that all the anti-Ebola measures taken after the entry of the virus into the country should remain in place and that health officials should continue to actively screen persons entering the country through its air, land and sea borders for any sign of the virus.
This is even as former Vice President Atiku Abubakar commended the successful eradication of Ebola virus disease in Nigeria which he said is a feat the would change the negative perception of the country by the outside world.
The former Vice President said the Government of Nigeria, Lagos and Rivers States’ governments should be commended for this remarkable achievement in the face of the grimmest medical crisis that the country found itself dealing with.
He said that the successful eradication of Ebola and the declaration of Nigeria as Ebola-free zone was a clear demonstration of the outcome of collaboration, hard work and commitment of the Government of Nigeria, Lagos and Rivers States’ governments.
Atiku said that he was superbly impressed with the amazing manner Nigeria had proved to the world that it had the will, commitment and human resources to deal with critical challenges of this nature.
According to him, when leaders work together for the common good of the society, there is always a ray of hope for the nation.
The former Vice President also extolled the virtues of the medical personnel during the battle to control the spread of Ebola, adding that he was touched by the sacrifices of these medical personnel who sacrificed their own lives to save others.
Atiku Abubakar advised the entire country not to rest on its oars until the last vestiges of the Ebola virus are destroyed.
He said that every country must demonstrate the capacity to carry its fate in its own hands instead of relying on the outside world, and that he was proud Nigeria demonstrated that capacity.
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Special thanks to our medical personnel and most espcially to Dr Adadevoh and all other medical personnel that lost their lives and even endangered that of their families for us to win the fight against EVD and to the government of Lagos, River states and FG I kudos and I will ask we stay more pro-active since the disease is still plaguing other African countries and I believe there are still many Patrick sawyer out there so let’s not rest till EVD is a thing of the past worldwide.
Special thanks to our medical personnel and most espcially to Dr Adadevoh and all other medical personnel that lost their lives and even endangered that of their families for us to win the fight against EVD and to the government of Lagos, River states and FG I kudos and I will ask we stay more pro-active since the disease is still plaguing other African countries and I believe there are still many Patrick sawyer out there so let's not rest till EVD is a thing of the past worldwide.