News Headlines for Oct 26

The triumph over the deadly virus did not just come; it took a lot from Nigerians and a huge sacrifice from the health care workers. Patrick Sawyer's infamous arrival to Nigeria left four of Nigerian's health care workers dead while others secondary contacts survived.

Medinat Kanabe spoke to a number of people on their take about the WHO declaration, and what they have learnt from the EVD.

According to Dr. Ejike Oji, a member of Global Hand Washing Committee and Former Country Director of IPAS, an International non-Governmental Organisation, that WHO declared Nigeria Ebola free because there is no current EVD patient under treatment does not mean Nigerians should relax. 'Let us be reminded that it took Patrick Sawyer just a flight to Nigeria and infect people with the disease so we must be very careful and vigilant," he said.

He maintains that hand-wash remains the safest prevention for not only Ebola but other types of water borne diseases like cholera. The message should continue to be spread even to the grass root, soap and water remains the key players in the absence of sanitizer. 

Oji warns that people shout be careful not to wash their hands in a bowl of soapy water, instead was under a tap running or make use of a jug so everything would run down. When you wash in a bowl, the dirt would still remain there and circulate.  

 'The most important thing is that there is the presence of running water and soap not washing your hand in a basin. Washing hands in a basin is like not washing your hands at all because all the germs go back into the hand. A jug could be used as a tap too if someone holds it and pour the water.'

Because we are free does not mean we could not be hit again as he called for more seriousness in the prevention of the disease in the country.

"Remember that if Patrick Sawyer wasn't very sick when he came to the country he might have ended up in a hotel thereby infection many people or if our hospital weren't on strike he might have ended up in a public hospital that is usually congested thereby causing even more havoc," he said.

He also wants Nigerians to celebrate Dr Adadevoh as according to him, if she didn't restrict Sawyer, he would he would have left the hospital. He advised Nigerian doctors and nurses to be at alert and follow global precaution practises to handle their patience until the EVD is completely eradicated from the other countries still under surveillance. 

Dr Oji commended the Nigerian airports for their continuous check of traveller as he called on the necessary management to make sure that the officials in charge handle the infrared temperature gun well to check temperatures.   

Mr Godffery Adio, a Businessman says Nigerians should continue with the hand washing and other practices because it is an ideal thing to do. "Ebola has inculcated it on those who were not practising it before and it is a good thing. Even before the EVD, Nigerians should have been practising it; EVD only came to remind us to do those things that we should do ordinarily." 

He says when a Nigerian man visits the toilet in the past; even if it is a public toilet, they don't wash their hands which is very bad and that is where most of the diseases are from but since the EVD came many Nigerians wash their hands always.

"I am also guilty of this because before the disease I only washed my hands when I go to defecate but not when I urinate, I don't wash my hands or do any cleaning of sort but now, each time I go to the toilet I wash no matter what I went in to do. Even when I enter public places and touch things now, I don't feel comfortable until I wash my hands and it has become a part of me. I don't think I can stop it. Even my car steering feels dirty to me these days so I wash my hands everytime I alight from the car," he said.

Praising his children's school for the practise, he said "now there are tanks in my children's school which weren't there before the virus came and that is impressive. In the school, they have made provision of sink and water with liquid soap and since the declaration; they are still there which to me it is a good thing.

"We should continue with the hygiene practise because if we stop we are likely to get infected with other diseases and we should also know that EVD has not stopped in some other countries," he stated.

For Sumaiya Quadri who is a student in the University of Benin, UNIBEN, when the disease came into the country, she was scared of travelling to Lagos or visiting hospitals for consultation when the need aroused. "I am glad we have been declared free from the disease because I wasn't still comfortable with travelling until I heard we have been declared free on Monday."

Sumaiya wants Nigerians to continue with the hand washing practice and other practices that will help keep infections away from people. "I think people should continue with the hygiene because if they don't there are so many other airborne diseases that they can come in contact with. WHO might have declared us free now but we have to be careful because Liberia and Sierra Leone are still battling with the disease and we don't know who might come into the country through the back door," she said. 

She also said it is better if people keep up with the hand washing, avoid bush meat adding that every other precaution should remain until those other countries are also declared free and the world is free from the disease. 

She advised that airport officials should also try as much as possible not be careless. "They should make sure they don't slow down a bit because every minute is important to keep the infected who might want to come to Nigeria to look for miracle or cure away from the citizens of this country."

For the Vice-Chancellor, Bells University of Technology, Ota, Ogun State, sanitation is very important anytime anyday. "We thank God that EVD started in Lagos if not it would have been a disaster especially with the kind of poor healthcare facility we have in the rural areas."

He said the primary healthcare delivery in Nigeria especially the rural areas have to be strengthened to avoid a worst occurrence. 

"Each time I watch foreign stations and I see what is happening in the rural areas in Liberia and Sierra Leone I thank God it didn't start in our rural areas because we travel alot and buy things from them on the road."

Head HAUK Explores School, Magodo, Mrs Hauwa Sodeinde also wants Nigerians to continue with the hand washing and other hygiene practice saying the EVD made a good impact on Nigerians. "I and many others I know believe that the EVD though bad, made a good impact in Nigeria. It has taught school owners and other Nigerians the important of hygiene. Everyone should continue with the practice of a cleaner and germ free environment, she said."

Mrs Shonibare, Proprietress of Jaquies Place, GRA, Ikeja said her school will continue to practise hand washing because it is the best way to keep the disease and other diseases away. "Even before the Ebola Virus came to Nigeria, we have had everything in place to keep our school clean because we deal with children. We have always had sanitizers and our cleaners clean with chlorinated water." 

She explained that before the children in her school eat, they use sanitizing wipes to clean the tables and after they finish eating, they also clean the tables with the wipes.

"We have also always made sure that our children wash their hands every time there is a need. They wash their hands after break and as they do they sing a song that shows how to properly wash the hands," she said.

She further said they have a teddy on each connecting wall too that reminds them that they must wash their hands always. 

"We also used thermoscan machine and we still use it. We also still don't allow anybody with high body temperature to enter the school," she said.