Kuje Residents, Council Chairman Vow To Resist Siting Of Ebola Centre In The Area

Residents of Kuje town in Kuje Area Council of the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja and the Council Chairman, Ishaku Shaban Tete have made it clear that they would not allow the siting of Ebola disease emergency centre in the town.
This came just as the federal ministry of Health, in conjunction with the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) has already began putting up structures inside Kuje General Hospital for the centre.
The threat by the residents of the town and the Council chairman is also coming against the background of an allegation that the government has voted N20 Million to bribe relevant stakeholders of the Council to ease the siting of the centre.
Ishaku Shaban was believed to have vowed that nothing would make him to compromise the health and welfare of the people in his area.
“I will resist and fight anybody or institution that is trying to bring Ebola centre to Kuje even if it will cost me my position as chairman,” Shaban Tete was quoted as saying.
The youth leader in the Area Council, Abdullahi Mohammed also vowed to mobilize the youth and concerned members of the community to resist the siting of Ebola centre in Kuje.
“We are ready to lay down our lives for the welfare and health of the people of Kuje, instead of allowing such thing happen with our eyes wide opened.”
Our correspondent reports that the Executive Secretary of the FCTA, Dr. Ademola O. Onakamayo was in Kuje general hospital on Sunday to brief the medical staff, mostly Nurses, on the project.
It was also learnt that a special training has been arranged for Tuesday for the Nurses of the hospital on how to handle Ebola cases and patients.
The executive Secretary, who drove himself in his private car to the hospital on Sunday, disguised himself by wearing face-cap and in jeens trouser. He would not speak to newsmen, even as he accused the medical staff of leaking information about the move to site Ebola centre in Kuje General Hospital to the press.
It was gathered that a building Engineer has already been given contract to design the Ebola centre in the general hospital by converting the male ward of the hospital.
Our correspondent noted that the male ward in which the Ebola centre is being constructed is very close to the hospital Mosque, the labour room and the laboratory. The general hospital is surrounded by private residences and is busy with people all round the clock. [myad]