Since the outbreak of the dreaded Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) in the country, the Anambra State government has been working hard to ensure that the scourge does not penetrate into any part of the state.
Apart from setting up strategic emergency management team and marathon review meetings with the team and the Secretary of the State Government, Oseloka Obaze, the government has taken several other proactive measures.
A test to the alertness of the state on the disease was when the rumour about the corpse of an Anambra citizen based in Liberia deposited in a private mortuary in Nkwele Ezunaka was raised and the government swung into action and evacuated the workers in the morgue, as well as quarantined the people of the area until medical tests carried out on the deceased came out and tested negative to the virus.
Not resting on its oars, the government is presently using jingles both in radio and television stations in the state to enlighten the people on how to prevent and avoid the spread of the virus while hand sanitizers are also provided in all public functions in the state.
It was in this vein that last week, the state government, through the Ministry of Health, extended the sensitization workshop on the Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) alert campaigns to 302 Artillery Regiment, Onitsha Military Cantonment and the Anambra State headquarters of the Nigerian Immigration Service, Awka.
The ministry had earlier enlightened the faith-based organizations, businessmen and women, and traditional institutions in the state on the virus and how to contain it.
It also used the opportunity to donate some infra-red thermometer, hand sanitizers, flyers and posters to the officers.
The state Commissioner for Health, Dr. Joe Akabuike, was accompanied by the Director, Primary Health Care and Disease Control in the Ministry, Dr. Chukwudi Okoye, the Senior Special Assistant to Governor Obiano on General Hospitals, Dr. Sunny Ekwunife, the Special Assistant on General Hospitals, Nwamaka Arinze (CMM), among other ministry staff and some students of the Anambra State School of Nursing/Midwifery, Nkpor to the campaign.
Addressing the people, Dr Akabuike said the campaign to the officers and men of the Nigerian Immigration Service (NIS) and soldiers became necessary as they are seen as a high risk group in the society because their people are very mobile.
According to him, “Ebola virus disease is by contact and Anambrarians travel a lot. The immigration officers and officers of the Nigerian Army receive foreigners and some of their members from other countries into Nigeria and that is why we see them as high risk group because they are at high risk of contracting the virus through primary contact. So, the sensitization is necessary as they will help us in the containment measures.
Akabuike enlisted the containment measures to include enlightenment of the people, personal hygiene such as proper hand washing on running water with soap and keeping the environment clean.
He enjoined the Immigration officers to always insist on finding out the origin of foreigners to know if they are from Ebola prone countries like Liberia, Congo among others.
He maintained that “there is no transmission of EVD during the incubation period of between two to 21 days, adding that Zmapp and Nano Silver are still evidence trial drugs, pointing out that Ebola currently has no cure.
He also disclosed that the state government has reactivated the epidemic preparedness response team domiciled in the state Ministry of Health just as it has provided isolation centers and purchased Hilux vans and ambulances to combat Ebola in the state.
Responding, the state Commander of NIS, Mr G.C Nweze, and the Onitsha Cantonment Commandant, Nigerian Army, Col. Jibrin Auwan Fagge, in their separate speeches, thanked the state government for the sensitization campaign. They pledged to maintain personal hygiene and assist in their little ways to contain the spread of Ebola in the state.
Col. Fagge said: “It is very important we know the importance of preventing the virus. The barrack is a very big community and we are prepared to contain it as several lectures had been held in this barrack, we are now ready to maintain a healthy environment.”

Ebola: Anambra takes campaign to barracks, churches