The House of Representatives has urged the Federal Ministry of Health to deploy necessary materials and personnel at the Airports, Seaports and Land Borders for carrying out screening exercise on passengers to avoid the outbreak of the dreaded Ebola virus.
He House also urge the Federal Government to set aside funds for the management of Ebola virus in the event of its reoccurrence in Nigeria.
It mandated the Committees on Health Care Services and Health Institutions to ensure that relevant agencies take precautionary measures to avert the reoccurrence of the Ebola Disease.
These resolutions were reached following a on: ‘Looming Reoccurrence of Ebola Crisis in Nigeria’ sponsored by Paschal Obi (APC, Imo) at Tuesday Plenary.
Obi while presenting the motion said the House notes the recent outbreak of Ebola Virus in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) in March 2019 where more than 1000 cases of Ebola infections were reported.
According to him, the House: “recalls that in 2014, the Ebola epidemic spread to some West African countries such as Guinea, Sierra-Leone, Liberia and then to Nigeria, when a Liberian, Mr. Patrick Sawyer, arrived Lagos by airplane and infected many Nigerians, including doctors and nurses.
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“Also recalls that the virus quickly spread to different parts of Nigeria, causing up to 50% death rate of infected people.
“Conscious of different measures by the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) to curtail the menace of Ebola, ranging from issuing an alert to Airline Operators directing them to ensure a high level of vigilance and ensure that proper checks were carried out on passengers and other relevant measures such as providing sanitizers and clinical equipment, where necessary.
“Also conscious of steps taken by the World Health Organisation (WHO) on August 8, 2019 to sensitize the public by declaring Ebola outbreak a public health emergency of international concern and also raising alarm on the need for nations to take preventive actions against the possible further outbreak of Ebola virus.
“Commends the Federal Government for efforts in tackling the menace of the Ebola disease in 2014, notwithstanding the ravaging force it came with.
“Worried that given the proximity of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) to Nigeria and other West Africa Countries, if necessary measures are not put in place to prevent the reoccurrence of the pandemic in a densely populated country like Nigeria, the impact may worsen and become difficult to curb.
“Also worried that, aside the airport rout which gave access to the initial outbreak of Ebola in Nigeria, there are other routes such as seaports and land borders which enables entry into Nigeria, hence, the need for precautionary measures to be extended to the seaports and land borders”.
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In a lead debate, the Ideato North/Ideato South representative noted that the resurgence of the Ebola Disease remains a grave health challenge to Nigeria and the sub-region of West Africa and required urgent legislative intervention to energize the Federal Government of Nigeria in the preparation of such measures as may be required for the control and eradication.
He said, “it would be recalled that Nigeria successfully combated the evident Ebola in 2014 through collaborations and commitments never experienced in history. This House played its roles in the circumstances then.
“Further, the fear currently is that the epidemic could be spread through routes outside of the Airport (s) as was the case in 2014. This is why the motion seeks to strengthen measures in the Seaports, Roads and other Border points in the country for the purpose of controlling further outbreak.
“Fundamentally, this Motion seeks to place the country at alert through this legislative intervention as new cases of the Ebola outbreak are recorded in the Democratic Republic of Congo since March 19, 2019.
“Mr. Speaker, and my Honourable Colleagues, I urge ourselves to establish our usual uncommon patriotism as always, in giving massive uncommon endorsement and approval to this motion”.
The motion was unanimously adopted via a voice–vote by Deputy Speaker, Idris Wase who presided over the plenary after the Speaker, Femi Gbajabiamila left.
