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Ebola: WHO Commends RSG’s Swift Action; Amaechi Releases N300m To Fight Disease …Two Discharged From Isolation Centre, One Positive …FAAN Screens Passengers At PH Airport …Panic At LUTH Over Another EVD Death …Student’s Death Raises Fresh Fears Of Ebola …Human Trial Of Ebola Vaccine Begins
The World Health Organisation (WHO) has commended the Rivers State Government for showing enough commitment to curb the menace of Ebola virus spread.
WHO Country Representative in Nigeria, Mr Rui Vaz gave the commendation when he visited Governor Chibuike Amaechi yesterday in Government House, Port Harcourt.
Vaz said, “We have a very strong leadership and ownership from the government of Rivers State and everything is going to be done through His Excellency the governor.”
The WHO country director assured of plans by the body to provide support to the state government to boost the fight on Ebola.
He stressed that the body was ready to assist in logistics, equipment, reagents and medicines and support for media, especially in training people to identify the key issues in communities.
Vaz also gave hope on finding a final cure to the disease saying the trial drug, Zmapp is still at clinical stages, “there is an overall discussion and effort because this is not only Nigeria’s for all countries. They are looking for threats and I think it’s ongoing because they are looking at the safety of the medicines which is on clinical trial.”
Also, Governor Amaechi has disclosed that the state has released over N300million to fight Ebola disease.
Amaechi emphasized that the state government was poised to curb the menace with all available resources, “what is going on is not a joke, so whatever thing that we need to do we would do.
“If it means borrowing money in order to be able to contain it we would do,” Amaechi maintained.
He, therefore, counselled politicians to avoid playing politics with the scourge, assuring that his responsibility as the governor is to protect lives and property, “so, it’s not time to blame anybody.”
The governor also commended WHO for its assistance and promised that the government was ready to provide fund to ease its operations.
In the same vein, the World Health Organization (WHO) has expressed commitment to assist the Rivers state Government in their effort to stamp-out Ebola in the state.
Country Representative of WHO, Rui Vaz stated this during a courtesy visit to the state Commissioner for Health, Dr Tamunoiyoriari Sampson Parker in his office in Port Harcourt.
Vaz, who commended the Rivers State Government for its efforts so far, disclosed that the World Health Organization will provide, among other things, technical and logistic support.
He also assured the people of the state that Ebola outbreak can be contained, stressing that the most important aspect of combating the outbreak is surveillance and case management.
The country representative further made a passionate appeal to the media on the management of information with regard to the Ebola outbreak.
Vaz said the media has the right platform to educate or discourage the people, stating that it behoves on the media to give the right information and not to panic the people.
Parker had earlier thanked Rui Vaz for the visit, and commended the WHO and other partners for their support and encouragements in the quest to conquer the Ebola Virus Disease.
However, Rivers State Health Commissioner, Dr. Tamunoiyoriari Sampson Parker has announced that two out of the three quarantined Ebola suspects have tested negative to the virus and has been released to go home, while the third person, an elderly woman who was admitted in the same hospital with the late Dr. Enemuo, tested positive and is being treated at the treatment centre in Eduoha.
The commissioner stated this in a media parley with health correspondents in Port Harcourt.
He said Miss Chinyere, the younger sister of the late doctor who escaped to Abia State following the report that her elder sister has been quarantined, has been found and is now placed under observation at the isolation centre after showing signs of the virus.
He said the remains of the late doctor, along with other corpses at the morgue, will be interred this week in Port Harcourt in line with WHO protocol, under the supervision of health officials.
This, according to him, is to prevent relatives of the deceased from danger, and reiterated that stigmatization of people under quarantine negates stake holders efforts to end the Ebola scourge.
However, following the confirmed cases of Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) in Rivers State, the state government has established screening points at the Port Harcourt International Airport, Omagwa.
The testing points, which were set up by the Ministry of Health in conjunction with representatives of the World Health Organisation (WHO) and facilitated by the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) are meant to undertake primary and secondary tests on passengers.
Addressing airline managers in her office yesterday, the South South and South East Regional General Manager, Mrs Ebele Okoye, urged the airline operators to ensure that their passengers comply with the testing procedures.
She directed the airline operators to issue the forms provided them to all intending passengers on purchase of tickets as anyone who fails to comply would be prevented from boarding the aircraft.
Mrs Okoye explained that isolation centre has been provided at the airport where further testing would be carried out on anyone suspected from the primary or secondary tests, nothing that the test is for those leaving and those entering the state.
The regional manager also disclosed that the management of FAAN had embarked on enlightenment campaign when Ebola was noticed in the country to sensitise airport users on personal hygiene to check the spread of the disease.
She, therefore, advised intending passengers to arrive the airport about three hours before departure time to give them ample opportunity to undertake the tests.
It would be recalled that the Chairman, Trade Union Congress (TUC), Rivers State, Comrade Chika Onuegbu, had alleged that the airport management had not taken proactive steps to check the spread of the dreaded disease in the state.
Onuegbu said that if measures were taken, the ECOWAS staff who visited Port Harcourt, would have been detected and the state would have been saved from the agony and pressure of curtailing the spread of the disease that has yet no confirmed cure.
Similarly, the death of a patient, who is suspected to have Ebola, has caused panic among patients and doctors at the Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH), Idi- Araba, Lagos State.
A reliable source, who confirmed this development to our correspondent in Lagos yesterday, said the patient was brought in by members of the health authorities at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Ikeja, to the hospital on Monday.
According to the doctor who was on duty when the patient was admitted into the Accident and Emergency Unit, the patient was vomiting blood and stooling, symptoms which are similar to that of an Ebola patient, before he died in the early hours of Tuesday at the Spill-Over ward of the hospital.
He said, “They rushed him to the Accident and Emergency Unit, and since he was vomiting and purging and he also had high fever, we quickly took his temperature, it was very high. We were all scared to take his blood samples because we were not wearing any Personal Protective Equipment.
“We had to take him out of the emergency ward to the other spill-over ward to avoid any form of contamination. We also reported to the Lagos State Government so that they can take him to the Infectious Diseases Hospital in Yaba for proper treatment. But he had started vomiting blood by this (Tuesday) morning , and few hours after he died.”
The doctor said that the body has being transferred to the Mainland Hospital, Yaba, for testing and confirmation of the cause of death.
The source said, “Like I said, we could not take any blood sample when he was alive because we were not wearing PPE, and we could not manage him effectively because of the severity of the symptoms we saw and considering the fact that he was coming from the airport. He could have been coming from an Ebola-affected country.
“They will need to establish the cause of death, so as to be able to know whether to quarantine those that he had contact with from the airport to the hospital. LUTH does not have the facilities to handle any suspected case of Ebola, government should know that, so they don’t keep bringing suspected cases here. All suspected cases should be taken to IDH.”
When contacted, the LUTH Chief Medical Director, Prof. Akin Oshibogun, said the death of the patient is still being investigated.
Oshibogun said, “We have been able to establish that this patient has no history of Ebola or any contact with a person that had Ebola. We are only trying to investigate the patient. If there is any new thing, we will let you know. As long as we are in the hospital, from time to time, we will always have high index suspicion and most times these patients turn out to be negative.
“There is a difference between suspected or confirmed cases . We are only investigating the case to protect our people. We have had that situation two times in the hospital now. If we have a case we will announce it.
“In the case of this patient, for the fact that a patient has high index suspicion does not make the patient an Ebola patient. When you create panic many nurses may decide to abandon the patients,” he said.
Also, a 19- year old student of Law at the Ahmadu Bello University has been diagnosed with the deadly Ebola virus in Kaduna.
The Public Relations Officer, Ahmadu Bello University Teaching Hospital (ABUTH), Bilyaminu Umar, while confirming the case when contacted via phone said the student was diagnosed at ABUTH, Shika, Zaria.
“Yes, there was a case of a suspected Ebola patient. He is with the Faculty of Law, ABU, Zaria and will be placed on isolation.
“I am out of town, but will confirm details on my return from a trip,” he said.
However, as at the time of going to press yesterday, authorities of the state Ministry of Health were yet to confirm the outbreak in the state.
In another development, The human trail of an experimental Ebola vaccine will begin this week according to the National Institutes of Health, United States of America.
In a statement yesterday, the director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, Dr. Anthony Fauci, said the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, has given the researchers at the institute the approval to begin the human safety trial.
The experimental vaccine, developed by the pharmaceutical company GlaxoSmithKline and the NIAID, will first be given to three healthy human volunteers to see if they suffer any adverse effects.
If deemed safe, it will then be given to another small group of volunteers, aged 18 to 50, to see if it produces a strong immune response to the virus. All will be monitored closely for side effects.
The vaccine will be administered to volunteers by an injection in the deltoid muscle of their arm, first in a lower dose, then later in a higher dose after the safety of the vaccine has been determined.
Some of the preclinical studies that are normally done on these types of vaccines were waived by the FDA during the expedited review, Fauci said, so “we want to take extra special care that we go slowly with the dosing.”
The vaccine did extremely well in earlier trials with chimpanzees, Fauci told newsmen yesterday.
He noted that the method being used to prompt an immune response to Ebola cannot cause a healthy individual to become infected with the virus.
Still, he said, “I have been fooled enough in my many years of experience. You really can’t predict what you will see (in humans).”
According to the NIH, the vaccine will also be tested on healthy volunteers in the United Kingdom, Gambia and Mali, once details are finalised with health officials in those country.
Rivers State Governor, Rt. Hon. Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi (with mic) discussing with Country Representative/Director, World Health Organization (WHO), Mr Rui Vaz on their joint efforts to fight the spread of Ebola virus in Rivers State, yesterday in Port Harcourt.
Kevin Nengia
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DEPLOY YOUR CAPACITY, TECHNICAL KNOWHOW TO REVITALISE SONGHAI FARMS, FUBARA TELLS TASK FORCE
Rivers State Governor, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, has said that diversifying the economy of the State has become inevitable because of the need to solve the problem of food shortages while also providing jobs for the teeming unemployed youths.
These, he said, are the reasons why great care has been taken to critically look at the prospects of revitalising the Songhai Integrated Farms, which is located in Bunu Tai, in Tai Local Government Area of the State.
Governor Fubara insisted that if the problem associated with food shortages is tackled with good intent and purpose, about 40 to 50 percent of current problems of economic hardship plaguing the country and its people would have been solved.
Governor Fubara made the assertion while inaugurating the Chairman, Mr Biedima Oliver, and members of the task force saddled with the responsibility of supervising the revitalization of Songhai Integrated Farms by its partners: Vitalcrop Ventures Limited and Imagine Adama Limited, at Government House in Port Harcourt, yesterday.
Other members of the task force included, the Rivers State Commissioner for Agriculture, Engr Victor Kii; Commissioner for Finance, Barrister Emmanuel Frank-Fubara; Dr Ayebaesin Beredugo; and Mr Maurice Ogolo.
The Governor explained that it took him time to approve the constitution of the task force being inaugurated because of the ugly experience with the previous group that shown such interest.
Governor Fubara stated that a process was initiated and driven halfway into the handing over of Songhai Farms on concession to an interested partner who latter showed a total lack of the needed capacity to undertake such task.
He said, “As a matter of fact, if few of you could remember, we even conceded the place to an investor who came in after he had made his presentation, and we, believing that he has the capacity, we said okay to him, and we had already signed up.
“But something happened. He came back to tell us that he wanted us to give him a N5billion bank guarantee. We then asked him, why? If we have the N5billion, why do we need you to come and even revitalize Songhai Farms? We would have put that N5billion there ourselves. For that reason, we cancelled that arrangement.”
Governor Fubara said now that two separate companies have come together to indicate interest and given the assurance of having the needed capacity to drive the process, he is delighted to see them meeting that expectation.
Governor Fubara pointed to the expectation of the people who want to see the Songhai Farms back on stream on a sustainable basis.
That expectation, he insisted, is also what his administration wants to see actualised within its lifespan.
He noted, “We want to see food sufficiency, because we know when Songhai Farms comes on board, there will be food, which is one of the problems we are having in this country. If we are able to tackle the issue of food, 40 to 50 percent of our problem will be solved.”
Governor Fubara also stated that although he believes in the presentation made by the group and has taken their assurance to heart, but warned that he would not tolerate a repeat of what happened before.
The Governor said, “I hope your story will not be (end) halfway too. I hope you have the capacity and all the technical knowhow to handle it. It is not when we start now, after we had finished inaugurating the task force, you will come back to tell us that you need $2million. If we have $2million, we won’t need you. We will invest it by ourselves.”
Governor Fubara, however, praised the capacity of the Chairman of the task force, Biedima Oliver, saying that incidentally, he was one of the personnel that convinced the then administration to develop the Songhai Farms, and had worked with the Rivers State Sustainable Development Agency (RSSDA) to manage the project.
He said, “He knows and understands the workings of Songhai, and now that we are making you the chairman of the task force, we want to believe that you will make that place come back to life.
“I don’t have any doubt in your capacity. A few things you’ve touched, you turned them to gold. Please, bring it back to what we used to see in Songhai. Bring it back with the help of your committee.”
Governor Fubara assured that his administration will remain committed to providing all the necessary support that they may require to make their assignment a success.
He added, “So, I hereby inaugurate you. Your task is very simple: Do everything within your powers and with our support to make sure that Songhai becomes operational to the benefit, not just the people of Tai, but to the entire Rivers State and Nigeria as a whole”.
In his acceptance speech, the Chairman of the Task Force to Supervise the Revitalization of Songhai Farms with Vitalcrop Ventures Limited and Imagine Adama Limited, Mr. Biedima Oliver, expressed appreciation to Governor Fubara for the opportunity and confidence reposed in them to revive Songhai Farms.
Mr. Oliver assured that they will deliver the expected goal on Songhai Farms, and doing so on time and on target so that the good people of Rivers State can eventually be happy and also benefit from the huge investment.
Rivers State Governor, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, has declared that all the policies and programmes of his administration are tailored towards the protection of interest of Rivers people, especially the youths.
This, he said, is borne out of the importance his administration attaches to youths’ development and empowerment as leaders of tomorrow.
Fubara, according to a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Nelson Chukwudi, disclosed this when he received the youths of Emohua Local Government Area under the auspices of “Emohua Youths For SIM” on solidarity visit to Government House, Port Harcourt, last Friday.
He said that his administration has put in place modalities that will boost the livelihoods and well-being of Rivers citizens, which youths of Emohua will also benefit when they materialise.
The governor, who spoke through the Rivers State Head of Service, Dr. George Nwaeke, pointed out that the recently awarded Elele-Omudiaga-Egbeda-Ubimini-Ikiri-Omoku Road, the ongoing Emohua-Kalabari Road, reinstatement of illegally sacked workers of Emohua Local Government Area and the approval for electrification of the area, are part of deliberate measures to open up the area to make life conducive and more meaningful for the people.
According to him, “Everything about the governor is putting the interest of Rivers State first. He is looking at and taking action on those things that we need to do to restart the wheels of progress in Rivers State.
“There are many things the governor has planned and is already doing that will boost the life and welfare of every citizen of Rivers State, but most importantly the youths.
“Growing up, I learnt that Egbeda is one of the biggest communities in the whole of Ikwerre, and it’s predominantly an agrarian community. They have food in Egbeda, they have food in Ubimini, they have food in Omudiaga and other natural resources. The whole world is tilting to agriculture, and this is the way to go.
“The Elele-Umudioga-Egbeda-Ubimini-Omoku road, when completed, will open up the area for real development. Your food and everything you produce there will now have value, they will no longer be thrown away. In all these, you the youths are going to be the utmost beneficiaries.”
He added, “Same will be applicable to the Emohua-Kalabari Road which will also, trigger development in the area, and you will be the greatest beneficiaries. When the LGA is also electrified, you will be having 24 or 20 hours of electricity, and those things the youths can do with electricity, you can stay at home and create wealth for yourself and children.
“All the totality of what the governor is doing, when they are completed, or even as some are completed now, the youths are going to be utmost beneficiaries.”
While acknowledging that youths are the true leaders of tomorrow and any government that fails to carry them along in the scheme of things is doomed to fail, the governor assured them of his administration’s commitment to always address issues concerning youths and ensure that they are part of his government.
He commended the youths for toeing the path of truth by identifying with his administration, urging them to sustain the tempo and shun evil, as his government will ensure that the trend whereby politicians turn youths to beggars are over.
He said, “Youths are, indeed, the leaders of tomorrow. The time of youth is a very important time. It a time that your parents or whoever is your leader at that time have to make the greatest investment in you. And any Government that decides to only carry the elderly, chiefs aling and abandon the youths is bound to fail,” he asserted.
“But I am happy that Governor Fubara has concentrated his energy on everything that will benefit the society, especially the youths.
“And based on these, I want to thank you for recognising what is good and calling it good, for shunning what is evil, for saying the Governor is standing for you.
“Let me tell you, you are on the right direction. Let me tell you again, Rivers State is the bride of Nigeria. The whole Nigeria is looking at what will happen here. As they look here and see you standing on the path of truth, this is a very important step that you have taken to right all the wrongs of the past, to make Rivers State stand on the tripod of justice, peace and security. That is what we are going to gain through the governor, taking all the wise actions that he has already initiated.
“The projects the governor is embarking on are meant to prepare nets for the youths to fish and put food on their table, hence you should continue to follow him.
“The SIMplified Movement brought upon by the governor will ensure that Rivers youths stop the habit of going to bow down before politicians, pledging loyalty before they can eat.”
Earlier, spokesman for the Emohua Youths for SIM, Comrade Ovamale O. Ovamale, had said that the visit by youths from the 14 political wards in Emohua Local Government Area was to thank the governor for the award of the Elele-Omudiaga-Egbeda-Ubimini-Ikiri-Omoku road, the approval for electrification of the area and reinstatement of sacked workers of Emohua Local Government Council, of which the youths were mostly affected.
According to him, “Siminalayi Fubara of recent has given Emohua Local Government road that links Elele to Omoku, which comprises over four communities in the local government.”
“Emohua Local Government has also been in darkness for eight years. No community in the local government that has light. But, of recent, because of the passion and love the governor has for the people of Emohua, he has approved the electrification of the local government.
“Also, the illegal sack of Emohua Local Government workers, for which the youths were mostly affected and without the approval of the Local Government Service Commission, the governor, in his compassionate nature, has reinstated them, and that is why we said we must come and thank His Excellency”, he said.
Rivers State Governor, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, has assured that his administration will collaborate and continue to consult widely in delivering a liberated State experiencing enduring peace.
Fubara said, in doing so, he would not operate as a dictator but as a member of a team that has the best interest of the State at heart and determined to leave a lasting legacy that can be celebrated.
The governor spoke during the formal presentation of Certificate of Recognition and Staff of Office to the Amanyanabo of Okochiri Kingdom, King Ateke Michael Tom, as first class tradition ruler, at Government House in Port Harcourt, yesterday.
Fubara stated that, during the Sixth State Executive Council meeting, N80.8billion was approved with 50 percent contract value paid already as the Government awarded the construction of the Elele-Egbeda-Omoku Road.
He said the project will be funded from the savings from Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) to underscore his administration’s prudence without also borrowing to complete the project.
“We are at a crossroad in our State where we all need to stand for what is right. It happens once in a life time. So, for now, be one of those people that will be in the course to liberate and free our dear State.
“And I know strongly that having the support of a peace-loving Amanyanabo of Okochiri Kingdom, having the support of the wonderful Council of Chiefs, having the support of the great people of Rivers State, we will bring peace in our State. We will do those things that are right to develop our State.
“We will continue to consult. We will not act as dictators. We will act as people who know that one day, we will leave, and when we leave, the way we have acted will speak for us. We will not force people to talk good about us. Our legacy will be a signature for how we led”, the governor said.
Fubara explained that he acted within the ambit of the law to upgrade the traditional stool upon which King Ateke Tom sits in recognition of his efforts in promoting peace in Okrika, and indeed, the State, and urged him to continue to do justice to everyone.
In his speech, Commissioner for Chieftaincy and Community Affairs, Hon Charles Amadi, congratulated King Ateke Tom for being formally presented with the Certificate of Recognition and Staff of Office as first class traditional ruler.
Also speaking, former Transport Minister, Chief Abiye Sekibo, thanked the governor for fulfilling his promise of upgrading the traditional stool of Okochiri Kingdom, and pledged the support of Kirike Se people to his administration.