The Civil Liberties Organisation, Akwa Ibom State chapter, has said that it is a very dangerous situation for 160 persons, said to have been quarantined by the Rivers State government over Ebola Virus Disease, not to be found at the quarantined centre.
The CLO stated that the four states that surround Rivers – Akwa Ibom, Abia, Imo, and Bayelsa states – are on a danger list as Ebola victims might have gone to any of these states.
The state Chairman, Mr. Clifford Thomas, told our correspondent in Uyo on Sunday that the borders in these states are not only contiguous, but porous.
According to him, the Ebola risk quotient is very high, describing it as a disaster waiting to happen. He added that among the four states, Akwa Ibom, does not appear to have the capacity to respond to this type of emergency.
He said, “Akwa Ibom State appears to have the largest movement of people into and out of Rivers State everyday in excess of 10,000. Health care and the medical capacity are poor, and may not be able to carry the pressure of any outbreak of communicable disease, like the Ebola.
“The government and the people are not ready, especially as Akwa Ibom people are reputed to be very hospitable. This fact itself is cultural and a persistent way of life of the people. They are too sociable not to be decimated by any outbreak.
“To be frank with you, the government has not made the infrastructure to respond to the crisis. What we hear are mere slogans on radio and television.”
He stated that the government could encourage research into how the virus might be contained. He noted that there could be a home cure and that states needed to sponsor research into the cure for Ebola.
He added that because of Ebola scare, many people in the state were refusing to attend unnecessary social gatherings, like going to clubs or joints.
He revealed that joints that used to have between 100 and 600 customers a day, could hardly boast of getting 60 persons in their clubs or joints.
On the use of hand sanitizer, Thomas said the product was not as effective as washing one’s hands in runny water with soap.
He asked Nigerians to be cautious and stop creating business unduly for capitalists, who are bent on using the weapon of fear to promote the sale of their products.
The state Commissioner for Health, Dr. Abasi Bassey, said the state government would soon begin screening on the land posts, airports and seas in the state.
He urged the people of the state to avoid unnecessary social gatherings, maintaining that the trend would help curb the spread of the virus, if detected in the state.
“I have sent out public alert, appealing to people not to travel to Rivers State except it is absolutely necessary. Even when they have to travel, they should take precaution, like avoiding direct handshake, avoid casual sexual intercourse and all other manners likely to constitute risky behaviours,” he said.
He stated that Akwa Ibom State has been working closely with the Rivers State Government to ensure that the spread of Ebola is curtailed.
According to him, only two or three persons have escaped among those that are being observed by the Rivers State Government over Ebola.
Source: PUNCH
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