On July 25th , the first case of Ebola ws recorded in Nigeria and news went viral about a Liberian man who was diagnosed with Ebola Virus Disease (EVD). The man, Patrick Sawyer, travelled to Nigeria from Monrovia, the capital of Liberia. Sawyer was said to have escaped quarantine and flew to Nigeria despite knowing he was infected with the disease. Patrick Sawyer was said to have collapsed at the airport on arrival in Lagos and was rushed down to the First Consultants Hospital in Obalende, one of the most crowded places in Lagos.
As soon as the man was diagnosed of Ebola, efforts were made by the state and federal government to trace all the people who had both direct and indirect contact with him. This caused serious Panic and fear among Nigerians and there was a conscious effort to engage in all forms of personal hygiene in order to avoid the spread of the disease. At the end, Nigeria recorded 19 confirmed cases with some few deaths and some survivors as well.
Yesterday, Nigeria was declared Free from Ebola Virus by WHO. This is victory for all Nigerians who worked hard to contain the virus. Special thanks to Dr. Adedovoh and all the medical personnel whose sacrifice has led to today’s victory. Even though some of them lost their lives in the cause of preventing the spread of the virus, they will always be remembered for their heroic Stance to contain the spread of the disease.
However, Ebola is still a global threat and therefore, we must not let loose our guards but remain vigilant, especially at ports of entry. We must continue to maintain good hygiene, avoid unnecessary handshakes, wash our hands regularly and use hand sanitisers all the time. This is not just to prevent Ebola but also to avoid other infectious diseases that might develop in future.
Remember, Ebola is still out there in Liberia and other countries. We must therefore be vigilant so as to avoid a repetition of Patrick Sawyer’s case. Who knows? An infected person out there may be planning to come to Nigeria again.
By Janice Johnson
