Following the confirmation that Ebola Virus had gained entrance into Rivers State and the placement of over 200 person under medical surveillance, the Governor Chibuike Ameachi, on Tuesday assured the citizens and the country that the government had the situation under control.
Appearing as a guest on Sunrise Daily, Governor Amaechi noted that his administration had started preparations, since Ebola was confirmed in Lagos, by disbursing about 300 million Naira for the purchase of materials and setting up a training programme for doctors.
He explained that the state did not act in time, compared to the situation in Lagos State, because the individual who introduced Ebola Virus to the State, Olu Ibukun Koye, had been unreachable for two days after arrival in Port Harcourt and he later travelled back to Lagos. Upon interrogation, he denied he had been in contact with other people.
“If he had said – yes, I was in Port Harcourt, yes – I saw the doctor”, the doctor and his family would have been placed under surveillance and the need to place over 200 under watch would have been non-existent, the governor explained.
The doctor who treated the EVD victim and his wife, had denied attending to him and had gone ahead to host several people for a child-naming ceremony. Also, when the doctor died, his wife allowed people from Anambra to pay her condolence visits.
Consequently, the residents of the state had been exposed for three weeks.
However, the “tracking and tracing has been wonderful”, Amaechi said, disclosing that the Federal and Lagos State governments, World Health Organisation (WHO), Doctors Without Borders (DWB) and other organisations have been of help.
The governor warned that no one should politicise the issue as those under watch had only been quarantined in their homes and not kept in isolation (at the medical centre).
He also encouraged residents to check themselves into the medical centres to be on the safe side.
Equipped Medical Facilities In The State
Rivers State Governor, Rotimi Amaechi also said the health centres in Rivers State is well equipped and was ready for any outbreak.
He said that the state has about 140-150 health centres, adding that one of health centres has been converted into an Ebola Centre in the state and doctors treating these Ebola victims live in the health centres, “Before Ebola we had provided quarters for medical workers in every health centre and not in Port Harcourt alone but in the rural areas of the state.
“We were prepared for any form of disease either Ebola or HIV he added”
Governor Amaechi stated that when he resumed office as governor of the state there were only 200 doctor but presently the state has about 600.
The governor mentioned that the state has benefited from the Lagos experience.
