AUTHORITIES of the Ladoke Akintola University of Technology (LAUTECH) Teaching Hospital, Osogbo, on Wednesday, disclosed that it has acquired Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) worth N17million to tackle any case of Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) in Osun State.Part of the PPE equipment acquired included gloves, medical suits, goggles and hand sanitisers, which would aid medical personnel in protecting them against the deadly EVD.According to a press statement signed by Public Relations Officer (PRO) of LAUTECH, Mr Ayodele Adeyemo, the Chief Medical Director (CMD) of the institution, Professor Solomon Olufemi Fadiora, also disclosed that the drug production unit of the hospital had commenced massive production of hand sanitisers for the hospital use.While tasking the public to give necessary information to health workers if any sick person is suspected to be hibernating at home, the CMD assured that swift action would be taken to take adequate care of such person.Fadiora, who contended that there was no reported Ebola case in Osun, maintained that the hospital was taking proactive measures against EVD, adding that four Isolation Centers (ICs) had been created in in Osogbo, Ilesa and Ejigbo to take care of any case, relating to the disease.'We have taken steps to create awareness among the general public in Osun State on the EVD with the printing and distribution of hand bills, posters and billboards sensitising the people on the prevention, symptoms and mode of transmission of the virus,' the CMD stressedFadiora continued: 'as a way of prevention of EVD, we want to underscore the importance of personal hygiene especially hand washing with soap and water against the deadly disease. The public should not run to healing houses and camps or prayer houses after contacting the virus as this will only further spread the virus.'No Ebola case in Northern Nigeria 'ABUTHCONTRARY to the wide spread rumour that a 19-year-old student of the Ahmadu Bello University (ABU) Zaria was hospitalised due to the dreaded Ebola scourge, the Chief Medical Director (CMD), Ahmadu Bello University Teaching Hospital (ABUTH), Zaria, Professor Khalid Lawal, has denied receiving first Ebola case in the Northern Nigeria.There was anxiety on Tuesday in Kaduna and its environs when rumour spread to the town that a 300 Level Law student in Congo campus of ABU Zaria was rushed to the hospital because of Ebola.There was also a rumour that a foreign soldier in Jaji had suffered a similar fate but was discovered to be free from the Ebola virus after tests.However, the CMD said on Wednesday that it was not true that a foreign student of Ahmadu Bello University (ABU) suffering from Ebola had been admitted in the hospital.Etisalat, Samsung support Ebola containment trust fundEtisalat and Samsung Electronics West Africa, on Wednesday, announced their support to the Ebola Containment Trust Fund (ECTF), in a bid to curb the spread of the deadly virus in Nigeria.This announcement was made during a presentation of Samsung Galaxy Smartphone's Etisalat SIM cards bundled with data and airtime at the Etisalat head office in Banana Island.While making the presentation, the Chief Executive Officer of Etisalat Nigeria, Matthew Willsher, emphasised that Etisalat's Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) represents a complete and wholesome relationship between the organisation and its key stakeholders through sustainable products and services, ethical business practices, minimising our environmental impact, and contributing to the sustainable development of the society.'One of our CSR platforms at Etisalat Nigeria is health and we always support initiatives that have the potential to assist Nigerians in that regard. Our partnership with Samsung is aimed at providing support to the Ebola Containment Trust Fund (ECTF) in the dissemination of factual information about Ebola and the strategies for its prevention and containment. This will also ensure that collection of data on individuals who have had contact with those infected with Ebola is effectively managed.'Also commenting on the partnership, Mr Emmanouil Revmatas, Director Information Technology and Mobile, Samsung Electronics West Africa, said, 'at Samsung Electronics, we uphold a belief in shared responsibility ' to our people, our planet and our society. Samsung Electronics West Africa's partnership with Etisalat in the effort to support the ECTF reflects the way innovative technology can be used to improve lives.'The ability to use smart phones and data services will support the ECTF in their preventive work on Ebola while also ensuring that more information is available for timely prevention.Samsung is privileged to be part of this timely initiative to contain and eradicate EVD in Nigeria and remains committed to improving the lives of Nigeria through technology and innovation.'In addition to the support given to the ECTF, Etisalat is also partnering with the Nigerian Red Cross to prevent further spread of the EVD through SMS, radio and social media campaigns.Etisalat Nigeria's CSR strategy is to align the organisation's business strategy with societal goals using three platforms ' Education, Health and the Environment. The company recently donated over 1,000 insecticide treated nets (ITN) to its customers to commemorate the World Mosquito Day in Lagos and Port Harcourt.The Ebola Containment Trust Fund, a non-profit body created to galvanize necessary resources to contain the Ebola Virus Disease from spreading in Nigeria has as its trustee members Dr Alero Roberts, Christopher Kolade, Pastor Paul Adefarasin, Felix Ohiwerei and Gamaliel Onosode.Medical lab scientists give conditionsASSOCIATION of Medical Laboratory Scientists of Nigeria (AMLSN) has called on its members to insist on provision of personal protective equipment, consumables like lab gowns, gloves, and all required equipment and diagnostic chemicals in public and private medical laboratories before they will treat Ebola patients.Speaking with journalists in Ilorin on Wednesday, the first vice president of the association, Alhaji Toyosi Raheem, said the measure was aimed at containing Ebola Virus Disease'.'Members must insist on the provision of personal protective equipment and consumables such as lab gowns, gloves, eye shields, head and shoe covers, respirators designed to prevent viral particles, constant running water, liquid detergents, hand sanitisers, constant electricity with back-ups, adequate waste management procedures/practices, laundry facilities etc.When these are available in various medical laboratories, whether public or private, in sufficient quantities and qualities, EVD will be effectively contained,' he said.The medical laboratory scientist said laboratory-acquired Ebola virus infection and spread in the country would be prevented when lab scientists continue to remember code of ethics in the practice and implementation of universal safety precautions and good lab practice.Alhaji Raheem, who said the era of no money to procure all mandatory tools in the laboratory should not be allowed to continue in the era of EVD, added that safety should never be treated as a political issue.Banks screen customers for EbolaSOME commercial banks in Kaduna have, on Wednesday, commenced the screening of customers for Ebola before they were allowed entry into the banking halls for any transaction.Although bank officials declined to speak on the development at a famous new generation bank near the Murtala Square, Kaduna, a security officer who was using a gadget to test the body temperature of customers at the entrance said any one whose body temperature was over 40 would be asked to go back.He said there were also provision in the bank to wash hands before and after transactions in the banking hall and appealed to customers to cooperate so as to curb a possible spread of the disease.The customers were seen in a queue waiting for their turn to be tested, even as those who felt embarrassed left to pursue their other businesses.Govt warns against sale of fake Ebola cassette test kitsTHE Lagos State government, on Tuesday, alerted members of the public to the activities of some unscrupulous people who are purportedly marketing 'Ebola cassette test kit.'In a statement signed by the Special Adviser on Media to the Governor, Mr Hakeem Bello, the fake items, branded 'Rapid response Canada with test results' purportedly available in 10 minutes is a hoax.According to the statement, 'there are no Ebola test kits manufactured anywhere in the world' and that public should not patronise the dubious marketers of the product.Ajimobi's wife organises seminar for LG representativesTHE wife of the Oyo State governor, Mrs Florence Ajimobi, in partnership with the state ministry of health has organised a three-day seminar to sensitise local governments in the state on the prevention of Ebola Virus Disease (EVD).Mrs Ajimobi, while declaring the seminar open on Wednesday, said it was imperative for all local governments to be equipped with adequate knowledge on the virus.'We have the privilege to have knowledgeable persons who will do justice to the issue. They will give us lectures on the disease and how to prevent the disease from coming into the state,' she said.The state Commissioner for Health, Dr Muyiwa Gbadegesin, in his welcome address explained that the presence of all the local government chairpersons, health officers and information officers at the seminar was an indication that 'the state is on top notch to tackle the disease.'Enumerating ways to prevent the spread of the virus aside education, the commissioner said there should be no stigmatisation as this would deter the efforts of the government to tackle the disease.He also added that malicious reporting should be avoided, noting that while it is imperative to report any suspected case, rumours and myths should be avoided as this would do more harm than good.
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