FG sends 504 doctors to Ebola-hit West African nations

Addressing participants at a three-day training program held in Lagos, the Director, Nigerian Centre for Disease Control (NCDC), Prof. Abdulsalami Nasidi said the first batch of 250 volunteer doctors drawn from across the country will be deployed ahead of the remaining 254 volunteers.

Nasidi who represented the permanent secretary, Ministry of Health, Mr. Linus Awute, said the volunteers are entitled to life coverage insurance, health disability, injuries insurance for all the participants in the contingent. “We have made arrangement for your insurance in case of any eventuality,” Awute told the volunteers, adding, “We will also make our isolation Centre active throughout your stay outside the country.”
He said both the Federal Government and the African Union have guaranteed that all volunteers including doctors, nurses will be paid their allowances in US dollars.
On fears that the volunteers could contract the disease, Awute said, “Almost 98 percent of those that participated in containing Nigerian Ebola are part of the team being deployed. So, they have experience.”
He also disclosed that the Lagos State Government is contributing 28 experts, mostly medical doctors to be part of the contingent.
In his remarks, Lagos State Commissioner for Health, Dr. Jide Idris urged the volunteers to adhere strictly to Ebola treatment protocol while doing their work. “That is the only way to reduce spread of the Ebola Virus Zaire strain that is affecting West African countries.”
He noted that one of the things that was done while Nigeria still had an Ebola outbreak was to ensure the safety of all the workers. “Those who worked in our Isolation Centres in Lagos went through a very rigorous training exercise.” Therefore, the volunteers will be subjected to the same training exercise including what to do and what not to do, he stressed, adding, “They must understand the treatment protocol and follow them strictly. The essence is to ensure their safety.”
Dr Joshua Obasanya, Deputy Head of Mission for African Union Support for Ebola Outbreak in West Africa (ASEWA) is the team leader for the Nigerian contingent.