In a bid to curtail the spread of the Ebola disease, some states government in the North have taken steps to sensitise the people on how to avoid the deadly scourge.
In Benue State, the Special Adviser to Governor Gabriel Suswam, in charge of Bureau for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs (BLGCA), Solomon Wombo, said the state government had moved to sensitise members of the public on the need to take precautionary measures so that it did not spread to the state
He disclosed that the Bureau would meet with local government chairmen in the state within the week to discuss ways of curtailing the spread of the Ebola virus.
Wombo, who also hinted that jingles had been on air to enlighten the people of the state on issues of the virus, explained that by the end of the week, the message would have been circulated across the state.
While also expressing faith in divine intervention, the special adviser urged the people of the state to put the matter into prayer.
In Niger State, the state government warned that Ebola virus disease (EVD) was a severe illness, with a death rate of up to 90 per cent that affected both human and non-human primates.
The state Commissioner for Health and Hospital Services, Hadiza Abdullahi, assured during a media briefing that the state ministry was joining forces with its federal counterpart to provide necessary machinery to prevent the disease in Niger State.
The commissioner said the ministry had concluded plans to establish quarantine centres at Kagara, Awuru, a New Bussa border town, Basa in Shiroro and Kwaru in Kontagora Local Government Areas, among others.
She urged religious leaders in the state to suggest religious ways to handle such cases.
While in Sokoto State, Governor Aliyu Wamakko approved the purchase of N50 million protection apparels and ambulances as part of the emergency measures against the deadly Ebola virus disease.
According to a statement signed by the Senior Special Assistant to the governor on Media, Sani Umar, the gesture was part of measures to check the Ebola virus first discovered in Lagos State
Wamakko also approved the establishment of detection centres in the three senatorial zones of the state.
The centres to be established in Gwadabawa, Tangaza and Shagari were for referrals and investigation purposes.
“Government has also approved the Amanawa Hospital in Dange/Shuni Local Government Area to serve as an isolation camp to referral of identified cases from the centres. Government has directed the 23 local government areas to provide logistics to health facilities for any eventualities,” it added.
The statement also said the government had approved the sensitisation of the general public through the media.
Meanwhile, Chairman of Katsina State Monitoring Committee on Ebola virus, Dr. Ahemd Qabasiyyu, has debunked rumours that the state has recorded its first case of the virus in Malumfashi town.
Qabasiyyu, who is also the permanent secretary of the Katsina State Ministry of Health, said in an interview with newsmen at Yanhoho in Kaita Local Government Area, shortly after inspecting the ongoing oral polio immunisation campaign in the state, that there was no Ebola case in the state.
He urged people to adhere to the professional advice provided by health experts on Ebola disease, saying the virus could only be contracted through contact with an infected person, eating contaminated food or animal and sexual intercourse, among others.

Ebola: Northern states introduce preventive measures