Delta State Governor, Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan yesterday disclosed that the State Government has set up a committee to educate and sensitize Deltans on the prevention and management of the Ebola virus.
Dr. Uduaghan who called on Deltans not to panic as there was no identified case of the Ebola virus in the state, said that seven hospitals in the state have been designated as isolation centres to handle any suspected case as part of the management measures put in place by the government.
Speaking during a People’s Democratic Party [PDP] stakeholders’ meeting for Delta North Senatorial Zone in Asaba, the Governor said that the committee which comprised the Commissioners of Health, Information and Environment has been inaugurated and would brief Deltans on the measures already taken to ensure that the virus does not enter the state.
“There is no Ebola virus in Delta State and it will not come to the state. We are doing everything possible to deal with the scourge. We have set up an inter-ministerial committee comprising the Commissioners for Health, Environment and Information to sensitise and brief Deltans on the measures in place to tackle any outbreak in the state”, Dr. Uduaghan stated.
Continuing, he said: “We have designated seven hospitals in the state as isolation centres where any suspected cases will be managed. Also every Local government area has a contact person and there is a contact phone number- 32815 where text messages [SMS] can be sent to report any suspected case.”
While calling on the people of the state not to panic as measures were in place to tackle any likely outbreak, Dr. Uduaghan said “We require the cooperation of all Deltans to stop any outbreak in the state, we need to up our personal hygiene, wash our hands regularly and use hand sanitizers. Those of you with relatives in any of the West African countries where there is an outbreak of Ebola virus who need to bring in any corpse from there should let us know so that we can ascertain the cause of death”.
Governor Uduaghan enjoined the PDP stakeholders to help spread the campaign to the grassroots in their various Local government areas.
Dr. Uduaghan stated that the stakeholders meeting was called to resolve various issues surrounding the forthcoming Local government PDP primaries in the state as well as ensure that the elections was peaceful and violent-free.
He appealed to the aspirants to shun all forms of violence and ensure a peaceful Local government primaries and election in the state explaining that the government have put in place machineries to tackle anyone prone to violence.
While reminding the aspirants that power belonged to God, he charged them to continue to work hard for the party’s victory in the forthcoming election stressing: “It is only PDP aspirants that you can see now moving around the state seeking support for the local government election, when they win, people will come up to contest the their success. We are working hard now and l know we will win.”
