Ebola: Delta Schls Will Resume Sept. 22 -Gov. Uduaghan Insists *Says Not Yet Uhuru On EVD

Governor of Delta State, Dr Emmanuel Uduaghan has said in accordance with the directive of the Federal Ministry of Health, schools in Delta State will resume on September 22.

Uduaghan, noting that the Ministry took into considerations many factors as it concerns the safety of school children befo

re agreeing on the resumption date, however warned that Nigerians are not yet safe from the effects of the disease.

He commended the Federal Government for its efforts towards tackling the spread of the Ebola Virus Disease (EVD).

According to Governor Uduaghan, who is a Medical Doctor by training, the fact that the EVD was still ravaging some parts of West Africa called for more vigilance among Nigerians and any suspected case should be reported to health officials immediately.

While assuring that there is no case of Ebola in Delta State as suspected cases were investigated and confirmed to be negative, the Governor disclosed that with movement among West Africans, there was need for increased vigilance so that, the EVD could be curtailed in the manner Poliomyelitis was checked especially, in Delta State.

Dr Uduaghan spoke yesterday at an enlarged security and health meeting involving leaders of different security agencies, traditional rulers, chairmen of local government councils and religious leaders in the state. The meeting was held at Government House, Asaba.

He emphasised that with determination, cooperation and vigilance, there has not been any case of Polio in Delta State for more than five years and Nigeria was heading towards been declared polio-free and advised that while President Goodluck Jonathan has done a lot to curtail the spread and effects of Ebola, there was the need for Nigerians and Deltans in particular to be more vigilant.

He noted that the burial practice of family members insisting on conveying dead bodies to their different places of origin for burials and harmful traditions involving widows of the dead have been identified as means of spreading the EVD.

The Governor also, said in accordance with the directive of the Federal Ministry of Health, schools in Delta State will resume on September 22, noting that the Ministry took into considerations many factors as it concerns the safety of school children before agreeing on the resumption date.