GEJ declares national emergency on Ebola, approves N1.9b special intervention fund

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"> <h2 class="date-header" style="background-attachment: scroll; background-image: none; background-position: 0% 0%; background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat; border-bottom-color: transparent; border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-top-color: rgb(34, 34, 34); border-top-left-radius: 0px; border-top-right-radius: 0px; border-top-style: solid; border-top-width: 0px; bottom: auto; font-weight: normal; margin: 0px -15px 1px; min-height: 0px; padding: 0px; position: static; right: 15px;"> <span style="border-left-color: rgb(34, 34, 34); border-left-style: solid; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-color: rgb(34, 34, 34); border-right-style: solid; border-right-width: 0px; display: block; padding: 0.5em 15px;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOI9OGCtCdolw-EtGEyeSkG5aFp9mKOTnQ3SabW_FAfs_gVrMrrXdA0HqskPvHQLF1H5Cvs9_Z5mxE4w7z0tiXDSrIWd7nQvDGkBV6M6U0cnSWHW3_MtuJIGU88wf9DJc8ePVNyuQJbXo/s1600/13177Ebola-Virus-1024x574.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-decoration: none;"><span style="color: black;"><img border="0" height="223" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOI9OGCtCdolw-EtGEyeSkG5aFp9mKOTnQ3SabW_FAfs_gVrMrrXdA0HqskPvHQLF1H5Cvs9_Z5mxE4w7z0tiXDSrIWd7nQvDGkBV6M6U0cnSWHW3_MtuJIGU88wf9DJc8ePVNyuQJbXo/s1600/13177Ebola-Virus-1024x574.jpg" style="-webkit-box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.2) 0px 0px 0px; border-bottom-left-radius: 0px; border-bottom-right-radius: 0px; border-top-left-radius: 0px; border-top-right-radius: 0px; border: 1px solid rgb(153, 0, 0); box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.2) 0px 0px 0px; padding: 8px; position: relative;" width="400" /></span></a></span></h2> <div class="date-posts" style="border-top-color: transparent; border-top-style: solid; border-top-width: 1px; clear: both; margin: 0px -15px; padding: 8px 15px 0px;"> <div class="post-outer" style="border-top-style: none; margin: 0px -15px; padding: 0px 15px 10px;"> <div class="post hentry uncustomized-post-template" itemprop="blogPost" itemscope="itemscope" itemtype="http://schema.org/BlogPosting" style="min-height: 0px; position: relative;"> <div class="post-header" style="margin: 0px 0px 1em;"> <div class="post-header-line-1"> </div> </div> <div class="post-body entry-content" id="post-body-4151987245394803333" itemprop="description articleBody" style="position: relative; width: 616px;"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Below is the State House press release...</span></div> <div class="post-body entry-content" id="post-body-4151987245394803333" itemprop="description articleBody" style="position: relative; width: 616px;"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br /></span></div> <div class="post-body entry-content" id="post-body-4151987245394803333" itemprop="description articleBody" style="position: relative; width: 616px;"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan</span><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"> </span><span class="aBn" data-term="goog_625285942" tabindex="0"><span class="aQJ">Friday</span></span><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"> </span><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">in Abuja declared the control and containment of the Ebola virus in Nigeria, a National Emergency.</span></div> <div class="post-body entry-content" id="post-body-4151987245394803333" itemprop="description articleBody" style="position: relative; width: 616px;"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Accordingly, the President has directed the Federal Ministry of Health to work in collaboration with the State Ministries of Health, the National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC), the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) and other relevant agencies to ensure that all possible steps are taken to effectively contain the threat of the Ebola virus  in line with international protocols and best practices. Continue...</span><blockquote class="tr_bq"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><a href="" name="more"></a></span></blockquote> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br /></span><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br /></span></div> <div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">President Jonathan also approved a Special Intervention Plan and the immediate release of N1. 9 billion for its implementation, to further strengthen on-going steps to contain the virus such as the establishment of additional isolation centres, case management, contact tracing, deployment of additional personnel, screening at borders, and the procurement of required items and facilities.</span></div> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br /></span><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br /></span></div> <div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">The President commends the vigilance of  aviation and health authorities in Lagos who identified and isolated the index case in Nigeria, the late Patrick Sawyer, an American-Liberian who flew into the country.</span></div> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br /></span><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br /></span></div> <div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">He also applauds the good work of health authorities at both State and Federal levels who have traced persons who had contact with him, isolated  other identified cases and embarked on massive public enlightenment.</span></div> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br /></span><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br /></span></div> <div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">President Jonathan calls for even greater vigilance and co-operation at all levels to stop the Ebola virus from spreading further.</span></div> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br /></span><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br /></span></div> <div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">As the effective implementation of the Federal Government's Special Intervention Plan will require other stakeholders to take certain precautionary steps that are supportive of the government’s initiative, the President calls on members of the public to follow all directives by health authorities and report any suspected Ebola case to the nearest health facility for immediate medical attention.  </span></div> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br /></span><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br /></span></div> <div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">He also enjoins the public to desist from spreading false information about  Ebola  which can lead to mass hysteria, panic and misdirection, including unverified suggestions about the prevention, treatment, cure and spread of the virus.  </span></div> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br /></span><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br /></span></div> <div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">President Jonathan urges that the movement of corpses from one community to the other, and from overseas into the country should be stopped forthwith. Every death should be reported to the relevant authorities, and special precautions should be taken in handling corpses.</span></div> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br /></span><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br /></span></div> <div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Religious and political groups, spiritual healing centres, families, associations and other bodies should, in the meantime, discourage gatherings and activities that may unwittingly promote close contact with infected persons or place others at risk.</span></div> <div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br /></span></div> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br /></span><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Public enlightenment agencies, including privately-owned media organs should support government’s efforts and disseminate correct information in all Nigerian languages, about preventive personal hygiene measures, the nature of the Ebola virus, modes of transmission and consequential steps to be taken in the event of infection.  </span></div> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br /></span><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br /></span></div> <div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">President Jonathan appeals to State governments and private day care, nursery, primary and secondary schools owners to consider the option of extending the current school holiday until such a time when a national reassessment of the level of the Ebola threat is conducted.  </span></div> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br /></span><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br /></span></div> <div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">The President further directs the National Emergency Management Agency and similar agencies at the state level to strengthen their public enlightenment campaigns and to use their networks to distribute hand sanitisers and other protective items nationwide. He has also directed the aviation and health authorities to embark on immediate intensification of the screening of travelers at all the nation’s borders.</span></div> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br /></span><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br /></span></div> <div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">President Jonathan reassures everyone that the Government of Nigeria will continue to take every step, deploy all resources, and mobilize every support and assistance to check the spread of Ebola in the country.</span></div> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br /></span><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br /></span></div> <div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Medical workers and other health professionals are expected to regard this declaration of a National Emergency as a patriotic call to duty and service. </span></div> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br /></span><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: left;"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br /></span></div> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br /></span><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: left;"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Reuben Abati</span></div> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br /></span><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: left;"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Special Adviser to the President</span></div> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br /></span><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: left;"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">(Media and Publicity)</span></div> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br /></span><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: left;"> <u style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">August 8, 2014</u></div> <div> <span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><u><br /></u></span></span></div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div>

GEJ declares national emergency on Ebola, approves N1.9b special intervention fund

Below is the State House press release... President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan   Friday   in Abuja declared the control and cont...

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